Dear Dr. Deena,
What is the flu and how do I avoid it?
Thanks,
Rob
Hi Rob. Thanks for your question which is just in time for Flu season!
Flu is caused by a virus known as the Influenza virus. There are many different types of Influenza viruses. The Influenza vaccine protects us against the most common types of Influenza during that particular season -- but there is always a possibility of catching a strain that is not covered by the vaccine.
The flu virus is mainly spread through respiratory droplets in the air (via sneezing or coughing), but can also occur after touching surfaces which have been contaminated with the virus (mainly touching the contaminated surface with your hand and then touching one's eye, mouth, or nose). The reason the flu is so common in the wintertime is because the air is drier, allowing the virus particles to stay in the air much longer. When the air is humid, these virus particles are surrounded by water which increase its weight and cause it to drop down to the surface more quickly. Studies have shown that human influenza viruses generally can survive on surfaces between 2 and 8 hours. This is the reason why the flu is much less common in the more humid, warmer parts the world and more prevalent during certain times of the year. The flu is also more common during the wintertime as more people stay indoors, which means you are more likely to come in contact with the germs of a sick individual.
Common flu-like symptoms include runny nose, coughing, sneezing, sore throat, muscle weakness, chills and feeling tired. These symptoms usually get worse over 2-3 days, and then slowly get better over days to weeks! Generally those with underlying lung disease or poor immune status (patients on chemotherapy, people with HIV, etc,) take longer to recover from the flu.
Steps that can be taken to avoid the flu:
-Avoid close contact with sick people
-Keep at least an arm's distance away from sick contacts
-While sick, avoid close contact with others
-Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you need to cough or sneeze
-Wash your hands often with soap and water
-Wipe up all contaminated surfaces with soap and water or other disinfectants
-Get vaccinated. Click here to read who should get vaccinated.
Hope this helps!
Please feel free to email questions to DoctorDeenaMD@gmail.com and share your comments below!
**PLEASE REMEMBER IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS ABOUT YOUR HEALTH AND/OR BEFORE STARTING OR STOPPING ANY TREATMENT OR ACTING UPON INFORMATION CONTAINED ON THE SITE, YOU SHOULD CONTACT YOUR OWN PHYSICIAN OR HEALTH-CARE PROVIDER**
Interesting Fact:
A single sneeze can release over 40,000 droplets. It only takes exposure to a FEW of these droplets to be infected by the flu!
Flu is caused by a virus known as the Influenza virus. There are many different types of Influenza viruses. The Influenza vaccine protects us against the most common types of Influenza during that particular season -- but there is always a possibility of catching a strain that is not covered by the vaccine.
The flu virus is mainly spread through respiratory droplets in the air (via sneezing or coughing), but can also occur after touching surfaces which have been contaminated with the virus (mainly touching the contaminated surface with your hand and then touching one's eye, mouth, or nose). The reason the flu is so common in the wintertime is because the air is drier, allowing the virus particles to stay in the air much longer. When the air is humid, these virus particles are surrounded by water which increase its weight and cause it to drop down to the surface more quickly. Studies have shown that human influenza viruses generally can survive on surfaces between 2 and 8 hours. This is the reason why the flu is much less common in the more humid, warmer parts the world and more prevalent during certain times of the year. The flu is also more common during the wintertime as more people stay indoors, which means you are more likely to come in contact with the germs of a sick individual.
Common flu-like symptoms include runny nose, coughing, sneezing, sore throat, muscle weakness, chills and feeling tired. These symptoms usually get worse over 2-3 days, and then slowly get better over days to weeks! Generally those with underlying lung disease or poor immune status (patients on chemotherapy, people with HIV, etc,) take longer to recover from the flu.
Steps that can be taken to avoid the flu:
-Avoid close contact with sick people
-Keep at least an arm's distance away from sick contacts
-While sick, avoid close contact with others
-Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you need to cough or sneeze
-Wash your hands often with soap and water
-Wipe up all contaminated surfaces with soap and water or other disinfectants
-Get vaccinated. Click here to read who should get vaccinated.
Hope this helps!
Please feel free to email questions to DoctorDeenaMD@gmail.com and share your comments below!
**PLEASE REMEMBER IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS ABOUT YOUR HEALTH AND/OR BEFORE STARTING OR STOPPING ANY TREATMENT OR ACTING UPON INFORMATION CONTAINED ON THE SITE, YOU SHOULD CONTACT YOUR OWN PHYSICIAN OR HEALTH-CARE PROVIDER**
Interesting Fact:
A single sneeze can release over 40,000 droplets. It only takes exposure to a FEW of these droplets to be infected by the flu!
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