How to Prevent the Flu: Pharmacist-Approved Tips
Wondering how to prevent the flu so that you and your family can stay healthy and safe? Check out our pharmacist-approved tips.
The flu season is here, and it’s not going anywhere. While you might feel overwhelmed with worry, know that there are strategies you can use to protect yourself.
ImmunizeBC recommends that everyone 6 months and older get a flu vaccine annually. It’s your best line of defence against the virus. Additionally, if you fall into a high-risk group or are 65 years or older, you should consider getting the vaccine as soon as possible.
Besides getting the flu shot, other preventive tips can also help protect you and your loved ones from the flu. If you want to learn more about how to prevent the flu naturally, we’ve got you covered with these 6 pharmacist-approved tips. Keep reading to learn more.
How to Prevent the Flu: Pharmacist-Approved Tips
1. Get the Flu Shot
It’s flu season, and if you’re like most people, you’re probably wondering how to stay healthy. You may have heard that getting a flu shot from your local pharmacy is an effective way to protect yourself and your family. So let’s look at what this means for you and your health.
First of all, what is a flu shot? A flu shot contains inactive or dead influenza viruses that trigger your body’s immune system to produce antibodies. These antibodies help protect against future infection by the same strain of the virus and typically remain in your body until the end of flu season.
Getting a flu shot helps prevent infection with the influenza virus, which causes seasonal flu-like illness and may lead to hospitalization or death in serious cases. It also reduces the chance of spreading influenza to others at high risk for complications (such as young children or older adults).
In addition, if you do catch the flu after receiving the flu shot, the risk of developing serious complications is reduced.
This year, the flu vaccine is free for everyone 6 months or older in British Columbia. You can book your appointment at one of our Wellness Pharmacy locations here.
2. Wash Your Hands Often (and Use Hand Sanitizer)
Washing your hands often and using hand sanitizer when you’re on the go can also help prevent the flu.
When you’re at home and can wash with soap and water, wash your hands for 20 seconds with warm water and soap. Make sure to scrub all surfaces of your hands, including under fingernails, between fingers, and around the wrists.
When you’re out in public and don’t have access to soap and water, use hand sanitizer instead (and keep it in your purse or pocket). Hand sanitizer doesn’t kill all germs, but it’s better than nothing.
3. Avoid People Who Are Sick
If possible, it is best to avoid people who are sick because they may put you at increased risk of getting the flu. This is especially important if you fall into one of these high-risk groups:
- Young children
- Pregnant women
- Older adults
- People living in assisted living or similar facilities
- People with chronic health conditions
When someone has the flu, their body produces a lot of mucus. This mucus contains active flu viruses that may be contagious to other people.
By coming into close contact with individuals with the flu or flu-like symptoms, you might expose yourself to unwanted germs. You can also get sick by touching another person with the flu and then touching your mouth or nose before washing your hands properly afterward.
4. Clean and Disinfect Frequently Touched Surfaces
Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces is another great way to help prevent the flu. It’s also one of the easiest since it only requires a few minutes daily.
Here are some tips for cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces:
- Clean all hard surfaces with warm water and soap or a disinfectant daily. This includes sinks, countertops, doorknobs, light switches, and other frequently touched surfaces.
- Wipe down any soft surfaces that aren’t washable with a disinfectant daily, including your desk chair and any other chairs you sit on throughout the day.
- Open the windows in your home to allow for fresh air circulation.
5. Maintain a Healthy Diet and Sleep Schedule
We all know that a balanced diet and sleep schedule can help keep you healthy. But did you know that it can also help prevent the flu? While it’s true that getting sick is not always avoidable, there are some simple steps you can take to reduce your risk of contracting the flu.
For example, getting enough sleep and eating well will help your body fight off illness more effectively. That’s because when you’re well-rested and have a balanced diet, your immune system functions better, and it can fight off germs when they enter your body.
Most people don’t realize there is a link between sleep deprivation and increased susceptibility to illness. Being tired affects how well your immune system functions by making you more vulnerable to germs. So if you’re feeling worn out during flu season, be sure to get plenty of rest.
Final Thoughts
We hope these tips have helped equip you with the information you need to protect yourself and your family this cold and flu season. If you’re in a high-risk group, it’s especially important to take all these precautions.
Finally, if you’re looking for more information about the 2022 flu shot, we’ve got you covered! Check out our blog post here: Should You Get the Flu Shot This Year?