It’s that time of year again. Kids are going back to school. The Seahawks season is underway. Stores start stocking Halloween AND Christmas decorations. And it’s time for an annual flu shot.
According to the Washington State Department of Health (DOH), almost 2.5 million flu shots were delivered to state residents over the past year, protecting about a third of the population. Most of these shots were delivered from September to January as people prepare for the peak flu months.
What exactly is the flu?
According to the DOH, the flu is an infection of the respiratory system caused by the influenza virus. This living virus survives by infecting a host, binding itself to cells inside that host’s airways and forcing these cells to make copies of the virus. This ultimately damages the cell, and the virus particles spread to infect more cells.
Once a person has been infected, their immune system attacks the invading viruses with antibodies and other defensive systems. The illness experienced by an infected person is the result of this internal combat. The body aches, fever, coughing, sneezing, and runny nose are all part of the effort to wipe out and expel the invading virus.
All that coughing and sneezing, however, can spread the virus. As the weather turns cold and wet, people gather indoors and the virus can easily spread from person to person.
Is it the flu or just a cold?
The symptoms of battling the flu are like those of fighting a cold and sometimes it can be hard to tell the difference. Both cold and flu are contagious respiratory illnesses caused by a viral infection—the flu by the influenza virus and the common cold by several viruses including rhinoviruses, parainfluenza, and various coronaviruses.
In general, the flu is more severe and debilitating than a cold. The symptoms are more intense and come on quickly. Indicators of the flu include body aches, muscle aches, fevers and chills, and fatigue. Colds typically result in a stuffed up or runny nose and do not pose the serious health risks of the flu.
How risky is the flu?
According to the American Lung Association, many describe having the flu as being hit by a truck. The debilitating symptoms come on suddenly and are severe. Sometimes, the body’s defensive systems go into overdrive and create their own set of problems. For example, the flu can lower immunity and lead to pneumonia when infected airways fill with liquid and oxygen is blocked from entering the blood stream.
Most people who contract the influenza virus recover within a week. Those with pre-existing risk factors such as heart disease, asthma, and diabetes have an increased risk of complications from the flu, including hospitalization and even death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Every year, the flu kills thousands in the United States.
Get a flu shot
To avoid the flu this season, the number one thing you can do is get a flu shot. The flu shot consists of inactive influenza viruses along with stabilizers and preservatives. The inactive viruses cannot reproduce, and you cannot catch the flu from the vaccine. They can, however, motivate the body to produce virus-fighting antibodies. Most people experience little-to-no reaction to the flu shot, with the most common reaction being redness and soreness at the point of injection.
The immune system will produce an abundance of antibodies in the months immediately following a shot. Getting vaccinated early in the flu season protects you through the most hazardous months of the year. The flu vaccine is for everyone, and when more people are vaccinated, it’s less likely the flu will spread in your community. Preparing your body to fight the influenza virus is especially important for people at increased risk of serious complications from the flu.
Preventing infection
According to the CDC, even as a flu shot strengthens your immune system, it’s important to avoid infection. This means avoiding contact with individuals who might be infected. If you are meeting a lot of people through this flu season, wash your hands frequently with soap and water or hand sanitizer. Avoid touching your nose, mouth, and eyes when your hands aren’t clean.
If you catch the flu, take actions to avoid spreading the virus. Cover your coughs (aim for your elbow, not your hands), and stay home and self-isolate when you’re feeling sick. You can spread the influenza virus even after recovering from the flu. The CDC recommends washing hands, wearing an N-95 mask, and keeping a distance from others for five days after symptoms have passed.
To get your annual flu shot, reach out to your Kinwell clinician through your MyChart account. New patients can schedule an appointment from our Appointments page or by calling 833-411-5469.
