Senior Care in Fishers, IN – Taking Steps to Reduce Your Elderly Loved One’s Risk of Contracting the Flu
In the early fall and winter months, we often see an increase in the number of flu cases across the country. Flu season is easily one of the busiest times for hospitals and doctor’s offices, as many patients become sick with flu.
The flu is actually short for influenza, an illness that comes from getting certain viruses. Most flu’s actually mutate and change each flu season, meaning the type of virus, symptoms, and transmission are different. This means that each year, people are just as susceptible to the flu as years prior, even if they have received a flu shot.
How Flu Affects the Body
For many people, the flu is one of the common illnesses they get each year and recover from in a couple of days. But for some children and older adults, the flu can very dangerous, if not deadly. One of the many problems with the flu is that it weakens your body’s immune system. When a senior already has health issues and then catches the flu, it can be very hard for them to recover.
While the body is busy fighting the flu, other viruses and illnesses can get you sick. It isn’t uncommon for people with the flu to suffer from other infections like pneumonia or other colds. Often times, minor colds and the flu are confused, leading some people to neglect treatment or medicine to help treat the virus.
Some of the symptoms of a flu include:
- Fever
- Headache
- Aches, pains, and weakness
- Exhaustion
- Chest pain, discomfort
How to Prevent Flu
To help prevent the flu, seniors should consider getting a flu shot each year. Receiving a flu shot will help fight off the flu virus that health experts feel will be the most prevalent that year, and it will better prepare your body to fight the flu. Talk with your senior’s doctor if you’re worried or have any questions. As the flu affects each person differently, your loved one may need a unique treatment that doesn’t influence his or her other medications.
Unfortunately, a flu shot cannot protect against the flu 100% of the time. But if someone who gets the flu received a flu shot, it could severely weaken the symptoms and illness. It’s also important to note that it can take around two weeks for a flu shot to start working. Ensuring that you get the flu shot in time for flu season and before you start showing any flu symptoms means you can stay healthy this flu season.
In addition to preventing illness, daily health is very important. Eating good meals and getting exercise is something a senior care service can help your parent with.
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