It's Baaaack!!!

Queue the scary music… It is nearly here. No, not Halloween; something even more frightening. I’m not talking about the holiday season either.

It’s (dramatic pause for effect…) Flu Season.

Flu season begins mid-November and runs through April. In May of 2009, I was in San Diego for a conference as the H1N1 panic hit. Family members were calling and asking me to leave the conference and come home, cruise ships were opting not to enter Mexico and risk exposing their passengers, and it was all over the news 24/7. We all know, now, that was kind of overkill.

Don’t get me wrong, I am not downplaying the seriousness of flu exposure; especially for those who are at risk for contracting the flu and developing complications from the flu. For these people it is important to have this conversation with their doctor and consider getting the flu shot.

Risk Factors Include:

• Age. Seasonal influenza tends to target young children and people over 65. The pandemic H1N1 virus that surfaced in 2009 appeared to be most common in teenagers and young adults.
• Occupation. Health care workers and child care personnel are more likely to have close contact with people infected with influenza.
• Living conditions. People who live in facilities along with many other residents, such as nursing homes or military barracks, are more likely to develop influenza.
• Weakened immune system. Cancer treatments, anti-rejection drugs, corticosteroids and HIV/AIDS can weaken your immune system. This can make it easier for you to catch influenza and may also increase your risk of developing complications.
• Chronic illnesses. Conditions such as asthma, diabetes or heart problems may increase your risk of influenza complications.
• Pregnancy. Pregnant women are more likely to develop influenza complications, particularly in the second and third trimesters.

For the rest of us, the following may be enough:

• Start Off Healthy. Eat well, exercise, get outdoors daily for a few minutes, get adequate rest, take a multivitamin and hydrate (water, water, water.)
• Be Polite: Cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze and cough. Use a tissue, the crook of your arm at the very least try to turn away from others.
• Stop Touching Your Face: Keep those hands and fingers away from eyes, nose and mouth.
• Wash Your Hands: Sing the birthday song, use soap and copious amounts of water the goal is to wash away those nasty germs.