“Fall and winter are the peak times for many viral illnesses, particularly influenza, Viruses are easily transmitted between people and are particularly dangerous for the elderly, the very young and those with lowered immune systems.””
Brett Johnson, MD, a family medicine specialist at Methodist Charlton Medical Center
Autumn brings on more than just falling leaves and dropping temperatures. The change of seasons from summer to fall also brings changes to your health.
The cold weather can suppress your immune system — increasing your susceptibility to infections, according to Harvard Medical School.
But other factors, such as poor preparation, also share the blame for the spread of these infections.
“To avoid these illnesses, seeing your physician early if flu symptoms arise can shorten the duration of the disease because of anti-viral medications,” said Dr. Johnson. “Good hand washing is important to decrease transmission of viruses. Most importantly, getting the flu vaccine is strongly recommended.”
Hand washing is the first step to preventing infection and infection spread!
As the season change, checking the forecast and always dress appropriately can help prevent illnesses. Die-hard fans of shorts and T-shirts increase their risk of getting sick if they continue to dress for summer well into fall, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Preventing other fall conditions — like seasonal affective disorder and Raynaud’s phenomenon — might not be as easy, but preparation is still important.
The flu typically peaks in January and February during the brunt of winter.
A respiratory illness, the flu spreads from person to person, mostly through coughs, sneezes and even general talking. It is possible to contract the flu by touching a surface infected with the flu virus then transmitting it to your mouth, nose or eyes.
Up to 20 percent of the population will be impacted by the flu each year.
Common colds can affect anyone at any time of the year, but peak cold activity hits during the winter and rainy months, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC). There are over 1 billion colds reported in the United States throughout each year.
As the most common stomach inflammation illness in the United States, commonly referred to as the stomach flu, norovirus reaches its highest strength during the winter months.
An extremely contagious virus, norovirus is the cause of up to 21 million illnesses each year, according to U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Outbreaks spread from person to person, most commonly in long-term care facilities.
Ear infections, especially in children, are more likely to occur in winter than any other season, according to UMMC. Changes in climate, especially as colder air takes hold, will enhance the threat of an acute ear infection.
UMMC also says that ear infections are the number one reason parents take their children to the doctor. Symptoms of general ear pain and even nausea can be the most disruptive symptoms.
A virus that impacts children, mostly under the age of two, bronchiolitis is a swelling and mucus buildup within the smallest lung air passages, according to UMMC.
The virus peaks in the fall and winter months. It most commonly is caused by a viral infection and is spread from person to person when coming in direct contact with nose and throat fluids of someone carrying the virus.
The CDC and UMMC recommends to wash hands frequently as the easiest way to prevent the spread of any of the illnesses. Disinfect counter tops, door knobs and other frequently touched surfaces often.
Dress properly for the fall and winter with taking further action with the flu and pneumonia vaccines by going to your primary doctor and finding out which vaccines are appropriate for you. Also take action and get treatment for any illness listed above with having a doctor care for you in treating the virus or bacteria or simple cold you have. The only way to find out is to be assessed by your doctor who will tell you what you have.
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“If you’re over 6 months old, the CDC says yes, you need to get a flu vaccination at the start of every flu season. Despite the fact that we tend to label any illness that makes us sneeze, shiver, or vomit as “the flu,” true influenza isn’t a trivial illness. It can do far worse than just keep you home from work or school for a few days.”
CDC Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
If you’re over 6 months old, the CDC says yes, you need to get a flu vaccination at the start of every flu season. Despite the fact that we tend to label any illness that makes us sneeze, shiver, or vomit as “the flu,” true influenza isn’t a trivial illness. It can do far worse than just keep you home from work or school for a few days.
“Hundreds of thousands of people each year are hospitalized with influenza. Between 3,000 and 40,000 people die during any influenza season, depending on the strain that’s circulating,” says Jeffrey Duchin, MD. He’s chief of the Communicable Disease Epidemiology & Immunization Section at Seattle & King County Public Health, and an associate professor in medicine in the University of Washington Division of Infectious Diseases.
Although young infants, the elderly, pregnant women, and people with chronic conditions like asthma or heart disease are most susceptible to flu complications (including pneumonia), people of all ages die from the disease each year.
“It’s a serious health problem for adults and children. And it’s preventable,” says Duchin, who is also a member of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). “We have a way for people to avoid unnecessary doctor’s visits, to avoid unnecessary antibiotics, and to avoid hospitalization.”
You might balk at having to visit your doctor or pharmacy every year for yet another dose of the influenza vaccine, but there’s a good reason for the repeat visits. The flu bug is a pretty wily creature.
“The virus is sort of tricky in the way it reproduces from year to year, in that it shifts its chemical coating from season to season,” explains Geoffrey A. Weinberg, MD, a pediatric infectious disease specialist and professor of pediatrics at the University of Rochester. “Even if you’ve been good about getting flu shots for several years you need to keep it up, because next year’s flu could be very different.”
The flu is far less predictable than measles and chickenpox, which only take a couple of childhood immunizations to provide full protection. “Those diseases are caused by only one strain of virus, and they don’t shift,” says Weinberg.
That annual flu vaccine ritual might soon be coming to an end, however. Researchers have been on the hunt for a universal flu vaccine for several years, and they may be getting close. Recently, they’ve discovered a more consistent target on the flu virus — one that could help them finally develop a flu vaccine that provides long-lasting protection.
Just for your FYI if your debating on whether or not to get the flu shot, I know I will especially being in the hospital as a RN almost 30 years and has worked for me.
Patients can refuse a flu shot. Should doctors and nurses have that right, too? That is the thorny question surfacing as U.S. hospitals increasingly crack down on employees, at least since 2013 and rising, about who won’t get flu shots, with some workers losing their jobs over their refusal.
Most doctors and nurses do get flu shots. But in the 2013, at least 15 nurses and other hospital staffers in four states have been fired for refusing, and several others have resigned, according to affected workers, hospital authorities and published reports.
In Rhode Island, one of three states with tough penalties behind a mandatory vaccine policy for health care workers. Being a RN almost 30 years I should with any other person in a hospital setting take on the responsibility for myself and patients I care for with the people around me to protect both them and myself from getting the flu.
Why would people whose job is to protect sick patients refuse a flu shot? The reasons vary: allergies to flu vaccine, which are rare; religious objections; and skepticism about whether vaccinating health workers will prevent flu in patients.
Isn’t our responsibility for our community to protect ourselves and others from getting the flu and passing it on to others whether in or out of a hospital job. It is called infection control; not taking the flu vaccine is not helping to control the flu virus in our society. Their are exceptions listed above. Religious objections is more a political correct reason which are rarely used but allergies or if anyway it can affect you health negatively I could see the vaccine being not given, especially if the negative effect of taking the vaccine outweighs the positive effects.
“Getting an annual flu vaccine is the first and best way to protect yourself and your family from the flu. Flu vaccination can reduce flu illnesses, doctors’ visits, and missed work and school due to flu, as well as prevent flu-related hospitalizations.”
CDC Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Protecting yourself from the flu is important not just for your health, but for those around you. You can be a carrier of the flu even without exhibiting flu symptoms, which means that even if you don’t get sick yourself, you can still infect those around you. This can be particularly dangerous for the elderly, small children, pregnant women, and those with medical conditions such as asthma. While most cases of the flu are mild, secondary complications such as pneumonia are common and can even be fatal. According to estimates by the World Health Organization, there are anywhere between 250,000 to 500,000 deaths influenza related deaths worldwide annually.Don’t: Neglect Your Yearly Vaccinations.
While the flu shot is far from perfect, getting a timely vaccination improve your chances of avoiding the flu by 60 to 70 percent. Even if you do get the flu after receiving a vaccination, your symptoms are likely to be lessened and your recovery time quickened. It is critical to get re-vaccinated every year. While many vaccines are good for a lifetime, the flu virus evolves particularly quickly, meaning lasts years shot will not be effective at fighting this year’s strains. If you have small children or are a primary caretaker for an elderly relative, it is even more imperative to make sure they are immunized, as these populations are particularly vulnerable to serious complications.
Do: Wash Your Hands Throughout the Day.
Simply washing your hands after using the restroom may not be enough. The flu virus spreads easily on commonly touched public areas and can stay active on a surface for up to two hours at a time. Think hand rails, elevator buttons and other common spaces that may be touched by hundreds of different people a day or more. Wash your hands multiple times a day for at least 15 to 20 seconds at a time. Do so thoroughly with soap and water, preferably with a sink with an automatic faucet and an automatic dryer. Sing the happy birthday song to yourself while you wash and make sure you get through at least one rendition before you turn off the faucet. This is a particularly useful tip to share with young children who are already at a heightened risk of catching the flu as well as experiencing serious or even life-threatening complications. Other important hygienic practices to use are sneezing into your elbow rather than your hand and avoid unnecessary physical contact with other people such as handshakes and kisses on the cheek.
Don’t: rub your eyes, mouth or nose with your hands.
This is a prime way to introduce viruses into your system. Pay close attention to what your hands are doing, and try your best to keep them away from your face. This will help prevent the virus from gaining easy access into your vulnerable immune system.
Do: Take Advantage of Your Sick Time.
While you may be able to power through a cold, coming down with the flu mandates an absolute stay-at-home day. How do you tell the difference when so many cold and flu symptoms overlap? Both will typically start with a sore throat and may include symptoms including sneezing, a stuffy nose and general fatigue. However, with the flu, symptoms typically start much stronger and faster. You may experience extreme exhaustion and headaches. If you have a temperature of 100 to 102 degrees Fahrenheit, you have the flu, and it is time to cash in on that sick time.
Even with all precautions in place, there is still a chance you may come down with the flu. If you do end up getting sick, stay home. The flu is highly contagious. If your kids get sick, keep them home from school. If you are sick, do your coworkers a favor and stay out of the office. Not only will overexerting yourself when you are sick likely hinder your body’s natural healing process, you are also likely to spread the virus to vulnerable friends and coworkers. Stay home, rest, drink soup and stay hydrated until your fever is gone and you can safely return back to your normal routine.
Do yourself a favor and get your shots, wash your hands, and prioritize your health if needed. Taking these necessary precautions will significantly increase your chances of staying healthy this flu season.
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CDC Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
