How to Stay Healthy Through Flu Season

Getting the flu vaccine, washing your hands, and avoiding contact with sick people are some of the things you can do to stay healthy through flu season. Here, you can learn other ways you can protect yourself from getting sick.

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The cold weather forces people to spend more time indoors. It also lowers your immune system defense against contagious diseases like the flu. That’s why winter is cold and flu season. 

At Pro-Health Urgent Care of Midland, our health specialists in Midland, Michigan, provide urgent care for patients suffering from respiratory symptoms like those caused by the flu. Taking steps to protect yourself may prevent you from catching the flu this season, along with other common respiratory illnesses like the cold. 

Here, we present our top tips on how to stay healthy through flu season. 

Get vaccinated

The flu is a respiratory infection caused by the influenza family of viruses. Influenza is highly contagious and can quickly adapt and change to overcome your body’s defense system against it. The flu virus that went around your office last year may not be the same one that hits your office this year. 

Your best protection against the most current influenza virus is the flu vaccine. We recommend getting vaccinated before flu season starts (usually in October), but it’s never too late. If you want to stay healthy this flu season, get your flu vaccine.

Avoid contact with sick people

You catch the flu when someone with the infection coughs, sneezes, or talks and you inhale the tiny droplets that contain the virus. Avoiding people who are sick may prevent you from catching the respiratory infection.

If you do get sick, stay home until you’re better. Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze so you don’t spread the germs to your loved ones. 

Wash your hands

Your hands can pick up the flu virus, or any other contagious disease, when you touch a communal object like a door knob or grocery cart. Regularly washing your hands with soap and water is your best defense against getting sick when you accidentally contaminate your hands.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), washing hands can prevent up to 20% of upper respiratory infections like the cold and flu.

Don’t touch your face

Washing your hands and avoiding sick people are good habits to stay healthy this flu season, but you also want to do your best to not touch your face, especially your eyes, nose, and mouth. If you do accidentally pick up a virus with your hands and then touch your face, you may inadvertently transfer the illness into your body.

Not touching your face is difficult; rubbing your eyes or scratching your nose are things most people do without even thinking about it. Keeping your hands from touching your face takes time, effort, and practice. 

Follow healthy habits

Cold, dry weather makes you more susceptible to colds and the flu because it lowers your immune system's ability to fight off infections. Following healthy habits can help your immune system stay as strong as possible to protect you from contagious diseases. We recommend:

• Eating a balanced diet
• Getting seven hours of sleep
• Staying physically active
• Managing stress

You can avoid getting sick this year if you take steps to protect yourself. If you’re unable to avoid illness and want to know if you’re battling the flu or something else, we can run a test (including COVID-19 testing) and provide recommendations for managing symptoms.

If you need to get your flu vaccine or you think you might have the flu, call Pro-Health Urgent Care of Midland today, or book your urgent care appointment online. We’re here to help.