7 Ways to Protect Yourself from the Flu

The flu is a contagious respiratory illness that's caused by a number of different influenza viruses. Every year, between 5 and 20 percent of the U.S. population contracts the flu, and about 200,000 people are hospitalized due to complications. In the thirty years between 1976 and 2006, the lowest number of flu deaths during a season was 3,000, while the highest number of deaths was 49,000. Wow, who would have guessed?

If you've never suffered from the body aches, headaches, fever, chills, sore throat, coughing, stuffy nose, and moaning and groaning that characterize the flu, count yourself lucky! For most of us, the flu is a one way to gain lots of sympathy, get out of doing household chores, and catch up on the latest Netflix series, but for others - particularly the elderly, children, pregnant women, and people with compromised immune systems, the flu is a very serious condition that can be deadly.

Flu season starts in the fall and peaks in January or February. Protecting yourself from the flu is a matter of understanding how it's spread and taking proven measures to avoid getting it.

How the Flu is Spread

The influenza virus is spread mainly through droplets that are sent airborne when infected people cough, sneeze, and even talk. You get the flu by inhaling airborne particles of the virus or touching your eyes, nose, or mouth after touching something that has the virus on it. Infected people are contagious from one day before symptoms show up to about seven days after symptoms start. If you get the flu, do your co-workers a favor and stay home until you've been fever-free for 24 hours.

The 7 Most Effective Ways to Avoid the Flu

1. Disinfect. Keep some disinfecting wipes handy at work and at home. Wipe down your desk, phone, computer keyboard, and anything else you or anyone else touches frequently. At home, disinfect doorknobs, light switches, the family phone, and other frequently-touched items, and keep the bathroom particularly clean during flu season.
2. Avoid close contact with those who have the flu. Sure, take Grandma some chicken soup and take good care of your kids when they get it, but don't get all huggy and kissy with anyone who's infected. Just say some sympathetic words, maybe give them a pat on the head, back away slowly, and then run for the hot water and soap and scrub your hands.
3. Wash your hands…often! Keeping your hands clean during flu season is essential for protecting yourself from contracting the virus. Anything you touch with the flu virus on it will transfer the virus to your hands. Then, when you go to pull an eyelash out of your eye, lick your thumb to turn a page, or scratch your nose, the virus is easily transferred to those mucous membranes. Once there, it's like a Navy Seal. It will find a way to enter your bloodstream. Wash your hands regularly in warm, soapy water. If you can't access warm, soapy water, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
4. Cover your coughs and sneezes, but not with your hands! Use a tissue, or cough and sneeze into the crook of your elbow. Make sure your kids do the same.
5. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth unless your hands are clean. That's how the flu virus enters your body and infects you.
6. Maintain adequate humidity in your home. Low humidity during the winter dries out your nasal passages, making it easier for the flu virus to get into your system when you inhale. Low humidity also dries out the droplets in the air that contain the virus, enabling the virus itself to remain airborne longer. Maintain the ideal humidity level of 30 to 50 percent with the help of a portable or whole-house humidifier.
7. Stay hydrated!

Here’s to your health!