With the cold season quickly approaching, Old Man Winter will assuredly bring an old friend along, The Flu.
Studies at Harvard University Health show that almost 36,000 people have died from the flu in 2014, and nearly 200,00 people have been hospitalized with severe symptoms.
Even if you show no signs and symptoms of the flu, researchers say that it is still possible for you to carry the infection and spread it to others.
Here are some of the symptoms of the flu if you haven’t had a chance to get your flu shot yet…
- cough/sore throat
- sneezing/runny nose
- body aches
- headaches
- fever/chills
- fatigue
There are a wide array of medications to help combat the effects of the flu. Cough drops and lozenges still help with the sore throat, while cough medicine and decongestants will also help. Tylenol and Motrin are available for the fever as well. Just remember to be mindful of the dosages. For the more serous cases of the flu, your doctor may choose to wrote out a prescription for an anti-viral, such as Tamiflu.
Hand washing or the use of anti-bacterial gel is an easy way to prevent getting the flu. When washing your hands, lather with soap and wash for at least 20 seconds, or sing a song like ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’ or ‘Happy Birthday’ twice. Drinking plenty of eater and making sure you get adequate sleep is also important.
But as always, the best form of prevention against the flu is the flu vaccine or the nasal spray vaccine, which contains the antibodies of the most common strains of the flu. CDC representatives say that everyone over the age of 6 months should be inoculated.
Temple students can go to Student Health Services on three campuses; Main, Health Sciences, and Ambler, along with local pharmacies and health clinics to get vaccinated. You can call or go online to schedule an appointment for Student Health Services at (215)204-7500. Temple will also hold walk-in clinics in the month of October.
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