The 2007-2008 flu season has started and runs through late April. We were amazed to learn that every year the flu kills 36,000 people and hospitalizes 200,000 annually. While the flu does affect young children, adults age 50 and above are the most susceptible group affected by the disease.
How can you tell if you’ve got the flu? The symptoms of flu and colds are similar, and it can sometimes be difficult to tell if you have the flu or a very bad cold. The flu can cause more serious illness than a common cold.
What can you do to protect yourself against the flu?
By far, the single best way to prevent the flu is for individuals, especially people at high risk for serious complications from the flu, to get a vaccination each fall. However, there are other good health habits that can help prevent the flu. These are:
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick;
- If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick;
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing;
- Wash your hands often; and
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
There are numerous places offering flu shots each year. We’ve seen prices ranging as high as $35 for the shots. Of course many insurance plans or corporate well-care programs cover flu shots, but we have found a ’secret’ place. CareNow at Grapevine Mills Mall offers the shots daily on a walk-in basis for $20 all the time. It was my first visit to their facilities, and we went in to get ours this weekend. We were there less than 20 minutes. The staff at CareNow were most impressive as well, constantly smiling, pleasant conversations and highly recommended. Thank you CareNow.
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