Every year, when the flu season comes around again, how prepared are you? While getting the flu can confine younger individuals to bed for a day or two, the complications can be much more serious for an older adult.
Flu can develop into pneumonia, especially for those with weakened immune systems. In order to reduce the chances of this happening, preventing flu in the first place is your best bet. Read on to find out some tips for doing so!
Get the Flu Shot
As flu season rolls around each year, it’s time to get your yearly shot again. It can significantly lower your chances of developing the flu and as a result, any life-threatening complications associated with it. Caregivers and those working with older adults in any capacity should also consider getting their shots to prevent them from passing on the flu to a vulnerable person.
Older adults can choose between two types of flu shots: A regular dosage or an increased dosage specifically for the elders, which is more effective. If you are unsure which to go for, getting a recommendation from your doctor can help.
Practice Good Hygiene Habits
Of course, this goes without saying, but it can help to be particularly vigilant during flu season. This includes washing your hands frequently and avoiding touching your face after your hands have come into contact with other surfaces. For the instances where hand washing facilities may not be available, you may want to keep sanitizer or wipes on your person just to be prepared.
For an extra level of precaution, you may want to consider wearing a face mask. This is recommended for older adults with a compromised immune system. Another benefit of wearing a mask is that if you do forget and end up touching your face after making contact with an unclean surface, the germs will not get directly onto your skin.
Seek Medical Treatment Early
At the first sign of flu, you should seek medical treatment instead of dismissing it as something minor. There are medications that can help to prevent the flu from getting worse, however, they have to be taken in the early stages of one. Some symptoms to watch out for include a runny nose, excessive sneezing, a fever, body aches, headaches, and more.
If you start to experience any symptoms or if someone close to you does, consult your physician at once instead of waiting for the symptoms to get worse.
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