Influenza: What you need to know

It's that time of year again. The dreaded flu season is almost upon us. Unfortunately, there is no surefire way to prevent Influenza, however knowledge is power. Just being aware of some simple flu facts and preventive strategies can significantly decrease your chance of getting or spreading influenza.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 200,000 people are hospitalized and about 36,000 people die from flu complications in the United States yearly. Most deaths occur in people over the age of 65. While most flu activity occurs from October to May in the U.S., flu viruses are detected year-round.

Influenza (also called flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat and lungs. Influenza is spread by droplets made when a person with flu sneezes, coughs and talks.

These droplets land in the nose or mouth of nearby people and spread the infection. It is also possible to become infected after touching a surface or object that has flu virus on it and then touching your eyes, nose or mouth.

People infected with influenza are often contagious before they even know they are sick. Typically, the virus can be spread one day before symptoms develop and up to five to seven days after becoming sick. Common signs and symptoms of the flu include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches and fatigue.

Certain people are at greater risk for complications related to flu. This includes older people, younger people, pregnant women and people with chronic health conditions like asthma, diabetes, and heart disease.

There are a number of preventive actions that you can to take to decrease the spread of influenza. Some of these include avoiding sick people, frequent hand washing or use of hand sanitizers if frequent hand washing is not possible. Also, if you are sick, stay home from work or school.

The single best way to prevent the flu is to get a flu vaccination each season. CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine for everyone 6 months of age and older as the first and most important step in protecting against influenza. People should begin getting immunized as soon as the flu vaccine becomes available, to ensure that as many people as possible are protected before flu season begins.

There are a number of different types of flu vaccinations now available including trivalent (three component) and quadrivalent (four component). There are also different routes of administration including intramuscular, intradermal, jet injector and nasal spray. It is important to discuss which type is most suitable for you with your health care provider.

To find out more about Influenza visit www.cdc.gov/flu. Watch the Times News for dates and times for Blue Mountain Health System's community flu vaccine clinics.

Barbara Kocher, MSN, NP-C is the director of Workforce Wellness at Blue Mountain Health System.