As someone who gets sick with the flu almost every year, this year was different. After only a week at school, I caught the most horrible flu I’ve ever had. With a fever of 40 degrees Celsius and a cough that lasted almost a month, it was the most insufferable few weeks of my life. In the past month, almost half the people I know at school have gotten sick. In this article, I will outline the key steps you can take to protect yourself from the flu.
But first, what is the seasonal flu and what are the symptoms?
The seasonal flu (influenza) is a virus that affects your respiratory system (your throat, nose, and lungs).
Peak flu season typically spans from fall to early spring.
With proper care, a flu usually goes away on its own within a week. However, getting sick with influenza could lead to other more serious diseases, such as bacterial pneumonia.
The main symptoms of the flu are fever and cough- although fatigue, ache, runny nose, and sore throat are also signs.
It is highly contagious and spreads easily in crowded places such as school - this is why it’s important for us students to protect ourselves as best as we can.
This begs the question: how can we protect ourselves from getting the flu in school?
Maintain a healthy immune system
Although it can’t guarantee that you won’t get the flu, having a healthy immune system is your first line of defense. Generally speaking, living a healthy lifestyle is essential to building a strong immune system. Here are some steps you can take:
Consuming necessary nutrients:
I cannot stress this enough! I found that every time I have gotten sick, I wasn’t eating enough nutritious food, or I stopped taking my vitamins for a while. Your diet is very important - your meals should be nutrient sufficient, full of fruits and vegetables. You could also take various types of supplements, but make sure to be consistent with them (unlike me!).
Getting enough sleep:
As students, managing all our activities and schoolwork can be overwhelming and can lead to sleep deprivation. However, when it becomes constant, this could have severe consequences on your health. Try to be as efficient as possible during the day: get all your work done, then go to bed at a reasonable hour. I’ve been there, staying up late studying for tests; my biggest piece of advice is to never stay up unless you absolutely HAVE to.
Exercising:
This can be any form of physical activity you want: walking, going to the gym, hula hooping, whatever. Make sure you get at least a little bit of exercise during the week: this will not only improve your health but also your mood!
Flu shots and other precautions
Along with having a healthy immune system, there are other ways of defending yourself from the virus, such as the flu vaccine and following standard hygiene rules.
The flu vaccine is said to be the best way to prevent yourself from getting the disease. Available around the beginning of October, the vaccine is recommended for anyone above 6 months old. After getting your vaccine, it usually takes up to two weeks for you to build immunity to the disease; this is why it’s best to get vaccinated as early as possible. The flu vaccine is typically a single-dose injection, however, there is a nasal spray option. This could be helpful for those with anxiety around needles.
It is important to get vaccinated every year-here’s why:
The influenza virus is constantly changing, and new vaccines are produced yearly to keep up with changes.
Your immune system produces antibodies (proteins that protect you from bacteria and viruses) after you get vaccinated. These antibodies weaken over time.
In addition, following simple hygiene rules can significantly minimize the spread of the flu:
Wash your hands and avoid touching your face. The flu can be spread by touching contaminated surfaces. Therefore, try to keep your hands and face free of germs.
Stay home or use a mask when sick. If you are sick, either stay home or use a mask to prevent spread of the disease.
Cough/sneeze into your elbow. If you are coughing/sneezing at school without a mask, make sure you do so into a tissue or your elbow to avoid droplets being spread.
Be careful around big crowds: school tends to be a place where the flu spreads easily, so being cautious around big groups of people can be very helpful.
The flu is here to stay for the months to come . Although not life threatening, it is still something we should take seriously-- nobody wants to be sick! This is especially true for students, as school tends to be crowded and stuffy at times. I hope this guide was helpful.
Wishing you good health this season!
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