This opinion piece was written by Dr. Aisha Harris for The Flint Courier News. Read more here.
Surprise! It’s flu season again, and flu cases in Michigan are showing a significant increase compared to previous years.
The flu, also known as influenza, is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that usually affects the nose, throat and lungs. The flu can affect everyone and anyone, but the most vulnerable people are young children, older adults, pregnant women and those with chronic diseases including lung disease or weakened immune system.
It is important to stay aware of your flu risks and take precautions around those who may be sick and contagious. One way to prevent and decrease flu like symptoms is to get the flu vaccine, which is available every year. You still have time to get the flu vaccine in order to decrease your risk of serious complications and hospitalizations related to the flu.
When flu cases increase, the domino effect is busier emergency rooms and more hospitalizations because of the severe symptoms and challenges people face when having the viral infection.
Common symptoms related to the flu include fever, cough, body aches, fatigue, stuffy nose, sore throat and headache.
There are a lot of viral infections that can cause sickness. So, even if you are not positive for the flu, you can still be contagious and should take the appropriate steps to rest and recover.
Not all viral infections will be named with being a flu infection or even a COVID infection, but rest and recovery is still important.
Most viral infections beyond the flu and COVID will not be tested for unless you are hospitalized.
Recommendations when you are sick with a viral infection like the flu include rest, drinking fluids, taking medication to reduce fever and muscle aches, washing hands and covering coughs.
There are over the counter medications to specifically help with symptoms like congestion and cough.
There are also some ways to prevent being infected with a viral infection like the flu and decrease the spread of viral infections. These tips include:
– Avoid touching your eye, nose, mouth – as germs can easily spread in areas that have what we refer to as mucous membranes.
– Wash your hands often with soap and water because we naturally touch things and surfaces that may be contaminated
– Cover your coughs and sneezes with tissue or your elbow to help decrease the spread of infected droplets to others
– Decrease your presence in crowded places or places with pour circulation. Consider wearing a mask to help reduce exposure.
– Get vaccinated. Vaccinations help your body decrease the risk of getting the flu, decrease symptoms and decrease your risk of spreading the flu.
Dr. Aisha Harris, MD is a Flint native and board-certified family medicine doctor at Harris Family Health in Flint, Michigan.