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How to Prepare for Flu Season

As summer turns to fall, it brings many welcome changes. Pumpkin drinks, your favorite sweater, and colorful autumn leaves are just a few of the things we look forward to. Something we don’t look forward to is flu season, but it’s just around the corner too. Fortunately, if you learn how to prepare for flu season, you can increase the likelihood that you’ll get through it with no problems.

How to Prepare for Flu Season

The year 2020 didn’t end with a lot of fans on its side. However, there were a few bright spots. For example, did you know that 2020’s flu season was one of the lightest flu seasons on record? Because people were taking protective measures on a wide scale, the flu had less opportunity to circulate. As a result, there were fewer flu cases than there were in previous years.

A lot has changed since then, and we can’t safely assume that this year’s flu season will be similarly light. However, what we can take away is that preventative measures are extremely effective in preventing all kinds of illnesses, including the flu. That’s why it’s a good idea to learn how to prepare for flu season. The more prepared you are, the safer you and your loved ones will be.

The Flu Season Preparedness Checklist

If you aren’t sure how to prepare for flu season, don’t worry. The experts are here to help. Here’s what the Cleveland Clinic recommends you do to make it through flu season free and clear.

Get Your Flu Shot (and Your Other Ones, Too)

Yep, you probably saw this one coming. If there’s one piece of flu season advice we all know, it’s to get a flu vaccine as soon as possible. The reason this advice is so common is that it’s correct. Flu vaccines are safe, extremely effective, and can save you from a serious case of the flu. Get your flu shot now, and ask your doctor what other vaccines they recommend to keep your immune system healthy this winter.

Create Healthy Habits

A flu shot can help you get through flu season, but it isn’t your only resource. Your immune system can do incredible things to protect you from illness, but it will do a much better job if you’re in good health before you get sick. So eat your vegetables, take your vitamins, aim for some kind of daily exercise, and get plenty of sleep. Your body will thank you.

Stock Your Medicine Cabinet

Before flu season strikes, be sure to have medicine on hand that can ease fevers, reduce muscle aches, and help you rehydrate. Having medication ready to go if you get the flu means you can save yourself a trip to the pharmacy when you’re sick. It also helps you avoid the pharmacy during flu outbreaks, when people with flu symptoms are most likely to be present.

Follow Flu Hygiene Tips

You can limit your risk of getting the flu by being smart when you’re out and about. Be sure to wear a mask in crowded public places and wash your hands frequently, especially when you are out of the house. If you know someone who has flu symptoms, avoid face-to-face contact with them until they are no longer symptomatic.

If You Get Sick, Get Help

If you do get the flu, you might be tempted to tough it out. However, that’s not a good idea for you or your health. If you suspect you have the flu, talk to your doctor or a medical professional right away. There are medications and other options that can help you recover quickly, and get back to good health.

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Once you’ve learned how to prepare for flu season, you should be in good shape. Don’t keep that knowledge to yourself, though. Ask your friends and loved ones if they have a flu season plan. A nudge in the right direction might just keep them healthy this winter, too.

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