Archive for the ‘Influenza Tips’ Category
Tobacco use and Influenza
When you’re thinking about quitting use of tobacco – today is the time to take the appropriate steps to do so. o Some research studies show an increase in flu infections among smokers compared to nonsmokers. o There is a higher mortality rate for smokers than nonsmokers from influenza Additional respiratory health consequences – o [...]
Older Americans More Likely to Be Hit Harder by the Flu
Vaccination Can Save Your Life Older Americans have been around the block several times and know plenty about surviving life’s challenges – big and small. But one challenge that many will face this and every influenza season is “influenza,” which might present more than a minor setback. For most individuals , getting influenza, commonly known [...]
On the Front Line – Nurses Urged to Get Influenza Vaccination
It’s been said that “nurses are the heartbeat of the healthcare system.” Without them, the system couldn’t survive. Sometimes, nonetheless, in their dedication to caring for others, nurses may forget to take care of themselves. This, too, can significantly burden the healthcare system, particularly when nurses catch the flu. Statistics show that fewer than half [...]
How NOT to Win Friends and InFLUence Individuals
Spread the word about the influenza vaccine, not the virus When you’ve ever had influenza, or “the flu,” you know it is far worse than the common cold. and while you lay in bed, exhausted, suffering from fever, body aches and appalling congestion for a week or so, you probably wondered who to blame for [...]
Protect your Child from Flu – Get Him Vaccinated … and the Babysitter, Too!
You’ve done your homework, researching and interviewing to find the best care for your child, but is your caregiver – nanny, babysitter, daycare worker or family member – protected against the flu? Flu takes a large toll on young children. Yearly in the United States, an averageof 20,000 children younger than 5 are hospitalized because [...]
Free Flu Poster – Steps to Fight the Flu
Flu is a serious contagious illness. Each year in the USA, on average- o More than 200,000 individuals are hospitalized from flu complications. o 20,000 of those hospitalized are children younger than 5 years old. o 36,000 individuals die from flu. Take action to protect yourself and your loved ones from the flu. The CDC [...]
Transmission of Influenza Viruses from Animals to Individuals
Influenza A viruses are found in many different animals, including ducks, chickens, pigs, whales, horses and seals. Influenza B viruses circulate widely only among humans. Influenza A viruses are divided into subtypes based on two proteins on the surface of the virus – the hemagglutinin (H) and the neuraminidase (N). There are 16 different hemagglutinin [...]
How the Flu Virus Can Change – ”Drift” and “Shift”
Influenza viruses can change in two different ways. One is called “antigenic drift.” These are small changes in the virus that happen continually over time. Antigenic drift produces new virus strains that may not be recognized by the body’s immune system. This process works as follows – a individuals infected with a particular flu virus [...]
Kinds of Influenza Viruses
There are three kinds of flu viruses – A, B and C. Influenza A and B viruses cause seasonal epidemics of illness nearly every winter in the United States. Influenza kind C infections cause a mild respiratory illness and aren’t thought to cause epidemics. Influenza A viruses are divided into subtypes based on two proteins [...]
Misconceptions about the flu shot
Can the flu shot give you the flu? No, the flu shot can’t cause flu disease. The three flu viruses contained in the flu vaccine are each inactivated (killed), which means they can’t cause infection. Flu vaccine manufacturers kill the viruses used in the vaccine during the process of making vaccine, and batches of flu [...]