We all love season changes and different weathers. Sometimes, our bodies don’t love the weather changes and react differently. A season change brings many health risks for us. Fever, cold, and sore throat are the most common symptoms.1 Old people, children, and people with chronic diseases get affected the most by these symptoms. Though it may seem like a normal cough and cold, it could be influenza.2 Usually, aged people get affected twice a year and for a child, the number may increase up to four times a year.1
So, it’s important to take extra care of your health at this time. The common health risks during season changes:
1. Risk of getting influenza
Influenza is one of the most common infections that happen in India. The peak season for the northern part of the country is during the winter months i.e. January-March and for the rest of the country, it is the monsoon season i.e. August-October.3
Influenza affects the respiratory system of humans. The symptoms are:
- Fever4
- Sore throat4
- Runny nose4
- Sneezing4
- Body ache4
- Fatigue4 etc.
2. Tiredness and dizziness
The heat, stress, poor lifestyles, etc. can lead to tiredness or dizziness.1
3. Thyroid irregularities
When the temperature fluctuates during different seasons, it may cause the thyroid hormone level changes during the seasons.1
How can you #FightAgainstFlu
By practicing a few healthy habits, we can improve our health condition.
- Maintaining a healthy lifestyle: Consuming a balanced and healthy diet, drinking plenty of water, getting proper sleep at night and destressing will help you deal with seasonal infections and influenza better.1
- Daily workout routine: Regular physical activity and exercise improve the body’s immunity and thus helps in preventing influenza and other viral infections.1
- Add immunity-boosting nutrients to your diet: Nutrients like beta carotene, Vitamin C, D, zinc, probiotics and protein play a role in boosting the immune system. Add food items like carrots, tomatoes, mangoes for beta carotene, citrus fruits for Vitamin C, eggs or fish for Vitamin D, meat or beans and nuts for zinc, yogurt for probiotics and your choice of protein in your diet.5
Vaccination against flu:
We all know that taking care of our health is in our hands. Prevention after all is better than cure. On 30th June, I joined a Facebook live session and got to know many things about influenza.
I understood that influenza is a serious disease and may lead to hospitalization, in some worse cases, it may lead to death.2 Every flu season is different, and flu can affect people differently, but millions of people get flu every year, hundreds of thousands of people are hospitalized and thousands to tens of thousands of people die from flu-related causes every year.2
Complicated after-effects of flu may include ear infections, bacterial pneumonia, and sinus problem. In the worst cases, it may lead to heart failure, diabetes, or asthma.2
So, an annual influenza vaccine is the best way to prevent flu. Vaccination has many benefits:
- Reduces the flu illness risk factor2
- Decreases the hospitalization rate2
- Reduces flu-related deaths in children and aged people2
Being flu vaccinated doesn’t mean you are not going to be affected by the virus. It means the severity of serious illness will be reduced strikingly.2
The doctors in the live also explained the importance of getting yearly shots. Since the virus mutates every year, a new vaccine is made available to combat specific viruses.6 We all should take the influenza vaccine because it reduces the risk and severity of illness. And not only kids but adults are also advised to take the influenza vaccine.2
I have already booked an appointment with my doctor to further discuss the influenza vaccine. Join hands in the #FightAgainstFlu.
References:
- https://www.healthshots.com/preventive-care/self-care/side-effects-of-season-change-on-health-and-tips-to-handle-it/
- https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/keyfacts.htm#flu-vaccination
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4193176/
- https://www.cdc.gov/flu/symptoms/index.html
- https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/fight-off-the-flu-with-nutrients
- https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/why-do-we-need-new-flu-shots-every-year
With monsoon comes worry of getting infected. You are right we have to #FightAgainstTheFlu by taking proper care, taking nutritional diet and getting vaccinated.
Rains and flu go hand in hand, as is evident from the rising cases these days. Taking nutrients rich diet that boost our immune system, taking precautions, maintaining healthy hygiene habits and of course getting vaccinated are ways to steer clear of the flu.
This is so informative post, as monsoon is here the risk is greater than ever. Right food and diet plan can really help. Thanks for sharing the details.
Monsoons always make us worry about viral infections. A healthy diet and prevention is the best way to keep away from it. Timely vaccination can keep our family safe.
true that monsoons and infection have a strong connection, thanks a lot for reminding about the flu shots.
This is quite informative, its really important to prevent what can be prevented and option for the vaccine against Influenza
I feel flu or influenza can happen to anyone at any given point in time. The best thing that one can do so that its symptoms are in controlled fashion or flu occurrence is to take the flu vaccination.
With the monsoon setting in we need to take precautions to stay safe from flu. This post was helpful to know much more
true. the old and the young are mostly infected if their immunity is not too good. and yes flu vaccine has helped many reduce their trips to the doctor.
With onset of monsoon, nearly everyone is falling sick with flu and virals. We need to fight the flu with proper care n diligence