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Here are 6 tips to help everyone stay safe and healthy this flu season.
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Flu season has begun and is unfortunately off to a deadly start. With early reports stating numerous hospitalizations so early in the season, it’s crucial to stay on top of our health and loved one’s health.
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Sharon Roth Maguire, a geriatric nurse practitioner and Senior Vice President of Quality and Clinical Operations for BrightStar Care®, prepared tips to help everyone stay safe and healthy this flu season.
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“The flu season affects thousands of individuals each year, and an exceptionally high rate is expected this year,” says Maguire. “It’s important for everyone to take the precautionary measures to avoid the flu, especially our elderly loved ones.”
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Maguire recommends the following tips for avoiding the flu:
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Get a flu shot
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This may seem like a no-brainer, but prevention is key, especially with the flu. If you’re person with a high risk (children, adults over the age of 65 and pregnant women) of contracting the flu, getting a flu vaccination should be completed as soon as they are available. While the flu shot doesn’t protect against every strain of the virus, it protects against the three most common. Elderly individuals should be sure to get the shot and not the nasal spray as the shot is more effective.
Stay hydrated and eat well
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Staying hydrated helps your body function properly. If your body is fighting early signs of the flu, it’s even more important to hydrate as your body is working overtime. Similarly, while you may lose your appetite when sick, it’s important to maintain a healthy and nutritious diet. Eating small frequent meals throughout the day when you have no appetite will help you get essential calories and nutrients which are vital to your recovery.
Wash your hands
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Wash your hands regularly with soap and water. We touch a lot of different surfaces every day, all containing many germs. Help avoid contamination by washing hands often, and when soap is not available, use an alcohol based hand sanitizer. Research demonstrates that hand washing is the most effective way to reduce the spread of infection.
Stay home
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If you’re feeling sick, it’s smart to stay home and rest. Give your body time to recover without putting others at risk of catching the illness.
Rest up
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Sleep is very important to the functioning of our bodies. Make sure you’re sleeping enough and add an extra nap if you’re body is feeling weaker.
Avoid contact
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Avoid close contact to other people, especially if they are sick. If your loved one lives in an assisted living facility or has a home care provider, make sure staff received the flu shot as well to avoid spreading the illness from other individuals. In addition, avoid the spread of germs and refrain from touching your eyes, nose or mouth. And, if you’d like to see if the flu has hit a city or town near you, visit http://flunearyou.org.
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