Summer has wounded up, the coronavirus pandemic is dragging on, and if this wasn’t enough, the season for yet another infectious disease is looming just around the corner: influenza.

While the focus is on the COVID-19 outbreak, the influenza season cannot be ignored. Just like coronavirus, the influenza virus can spread with mild infections.

Influenza is a viral infection that attacks the nose, lungs, and throat. Last year, more than 39 million people got sick with influenza, according to estimates by the CDC. So, what will this winter be like with both COVID-19 and flu in the mix?The specialist doesn’t know yet.

But there are certain steps you can take to protect yourself and your loved ones, and help keep hospitals from becoming overwhelmed with sick patients this flu season. The flu season may start in October and won’t rear its head until January or February. Because influenza virus and coronavirus spread in similar ways, it is likely that face masks, social distance, and other measures will be used to reduce the spread of flu and coronavirus.Face masks provide a physical barrier for large particles of respiratory droplets when an infected person sneezes or coughs.

How to prepare yourself for the flu

Both the flu and the coronavirus are serious illnesses. Prepare yourself and your loved ones.

Get your flu shot.

Research shows that the flu vaccine can reduce the risk of flu illness and make it less likely that you will get severely ill even if you do become infected. There is no vaccine for coronavirus yet, but you can protect yourself from the spread of viral infection. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that anyone over the age of six months get vaccinated.It is advisable to get a flu shot in early October to prepare for the beginning parts of the flu season.

Stay vigilant with safety precautions:

Just like coronavirus, flu infections are also spread through drops from a person’s nose or mouth. All the safety measures taken to prevent the spread of noble coronavirus, such as masking, staying six feet away, frequent washing of hands, etc., can also be followed for flu season. This will reduce your chances of being exposed to the flu virus.

If you get sick, you know what to do:

The influenza virus and COVID-19 have similar symptoms such as cough, fever, muscle aches, and difficulty in breathing. If you develop any of the above symptoms, immediately get in touch with your doctor. The doctor will be able to better advise you on what can be done and if a test for the flu or COVID-19 should be conducted.

Stock your medicine cabinet.

If you get a mild symptom of the flu or COVID-19, stay home and feel better until you get well to avoid passing it on to others. Doctors recommend keeping a few things handy just in case any of the symptoms take place: a fever reducer such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), cough syrup, a thermometer, and ibuprofen for muscle aches. To measure the level of oxygen, it is vital to keep a pulse oximeter at home.

Winter is the time for another contagious illness like respiratory syncytial virus (which commonly affects children) and norovirus (a stomach bug). Taking necessary precautions for COVID and the flu virus will also help keep these illnesses at bay. Washing your hands frequently, practicing good cough etiquette, disinfecting hard surfaces with sanitizers, and staying at home when sick are all good winter practices.

But with an extra layer of deadly disease, COVID-19, the care should also come with an extra layer. If we all want to go back to our normal lives, which include watching movies in theaters, eating in restaurants, playing in the garden, and sending kids to school safely, we need to practice all the above preventive measures and understand that we are not just protecting ourselves but also the people around us.

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Source: ArticlesFactory.com

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