{"id":2190,"date":"2021-09-08T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-09-08T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.boomershub.com\/?p=2190"},"modified":"2023-03-10T08:12:31","modified_gmt":"2023-03-10T08:12:31","slug":"ready-for-flu-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.boomershub.com\/blog\/ready-for-flu-season","title":{"rendered":"Flu Season 2022: Make Your Loved Ones Ready"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Introduction<\/h2>\n

Flu season- it\u2019s coming! We are near the month of September, and surely some of you have started feeling the chill. The chilled weather is fun and exciting. But not for everyone.<\/p>\n

Our seniors can be prone to severe health issues during the flu season. Are your loved ones ready for flu season to appear? If not, you are at the right place.<\/p>\n

Throughout this article, we will build a brief knowledge about seasonal flu. And in the end, you will finish with a complete guideline on flu season safety tips.<\/p>\n

When Is Flu Season Coming in 2022?<\/h2>\n
\"flu\n
Flu season 2022<\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n

Source:<\/strong>\u00a0The Flu Season CDC<\/a><\/p>\n

We will talk about flu season and the associated diseases throughout the article. But we need to address the topmost question on our list. When does flu season start in 2022?<\/p>\n

Flu season is often associated with colder months of the year. And these months can start from the early September days. This is the time when the cold breeze starts hitting our faces. But the real icy cool month at least a month later. In total, the cold season lasts till the end of March to May. All these truly depend on the state you are residing in.<\/p>\n

The riskiest months are between the fall and winter seasons. Months between these seasons can be very cold. The weather can vary from state to state. But CDC claims these seasons to be the flu seasons in America. And seniors are mostly prone to catching flu during these seasons.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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What Is the Difference between Flu and Cold?<\/span><\/h2>\n

We\u2019re slowly diving into the main discussion. But some confusions are still not clear. So the aim here is to give you a complete overview of flu season. This way, you can protect loved ones from flu diseases.<\/p>\n

This time, a huge confusion can arise between cold and flu. Everyone thinks these two are similar. While they are not totally wrong, there are some differences.<\/p>\n

\"Flu\n
Flu and cold symptoms<\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n

Cold and flu both have almost similar symptoms. This makes the\u00a0cold and flu treatment<\/a>\u00a0to be alike as well. Both cold and flu cause respiratory sickness from viral infections. So, how do you distinguish between them.<\/p>\n

The simplest dissimilarity lies in their timing. Common cold, as the name suggests, can happen throughout the year. But seasonal flu, as the name reflects, is seasonal and more severe.<\/p>\n

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\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Cold<\/strong>\u00a0<\/td>\nFlu<\/strong>\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Happens throughout the year\u00a0<\/td>\nHappens in a specific season\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Symptoms appear gradually\u00a0<\/td>\nSymptoms appear abruptly\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mild symptoms and health effects\u00a0<\/td>\nSevere symptoms and health effects\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Caused by various viruses such as rhinoviruses, parainfluenza, etc.\u00a0<\/td>\nCaused by Influenza virus only\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Symptoms include aches, sneezing, sore throat, stuffy nose, etc.\u00a0<\/td>\nSymptoms include fever, fatigue, coughing, headache, etc.\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n
Cold vs Flu<\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Why Are Seniors at Risk during the Flu Season?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Do you know\u00a0who is most at risk of getting flu?<\/a>\u00a0According to WHO, people over 65 years of age have a significant risk of Influenza. And they may also be carrying medical conditions like asthma, diabetes, or lung disease. This makes them prone to seasonal flu as well.<\/p>\n

The underlined existing diseases also make seniors prone to flu. For example, having breathing issues can cause seniors asthma attacks during the flu season. So, it is crucial that you take proper care of them during these times.<\/p>\n

You can also determine why seniors are at a high risk of flu. As they grow old, their immune system deteriorates. As a result, their bodies cannot fight against the flu virus.<\/p>\n

What does it mean for your senior loved ones? It means that the elders have many different\u00a0complications from the flu<\/a>. For instance, seasonal flu can cause severe heart attacks in seniors. And so, they need to follow the tips for staying healthy during cold and flu season.<\/p>\n

How Will Covid-19 Affect This Year\u2019s Flu Season?<\/h2>\n

Covid-19! Do you remember a time when this world-changing virus wasn\u2019t a part of your daily life? We can\u2019t think of it either. Though COVID cases were starting to decrease earlier this year, the numbers are again on the rise.\u00a0So, how the pandemic is going to affect the upcoming flu season is quite difficult to predict.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Covid and flu symptoms are pretty similar as well. Both can cause fever, sore throat, cough and more. So, it might be hard to differentiate between them. And this can cause panic across families.<\/p>\n

So, the major factor to consider is the incubation period of the two viruses. It can take only a handful of days to experience flu symptoms. And the coronavirus can take 2 to 14 days to show its symptoms. Thus, it falls upon the caregivers to take adequate measures.<\/p>\n

But there can be both good and bad news for flu during Covid-19. The bad news is that the flu virus can affect your body faster. And seniors may experience severe side effects.<\/p>\n

Yet, the good news is that people are maintaining precautions from Covid-19. This can help reduce the probability of flu contamination. For example, people are working remotely, keeping their distance, and wearing masks and mass vaccination has been happening throughout the year.\u00a0These\u00a0protections from Covid-19<\/a>\u00a0are positive signs of being safe from spreading any virus.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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7 Best Ways to Get Seniors Ready for Flu Season<\/span><\/h2>\n

The flu virus can be active throughout the whole year. But the most active season is between October to March. Either way, you will need to follow the flu season safety tips almost always.<\/p>\n

And even if you catch Influenza, a\u00a0cold and flu survival kit<\/a>\u00a0can help you out. Regardless, our job is to get you ready for flu season. So, here are 7 tips for the flu season that can help the seniors remain safe.<\/p>\n

1. Get the flu shot<\/h3>\n

The\u00a0flu vaccine<\/a>\u00a0changes every year. This is because the virus becomes potent to the old vaccine. Thus, scientists build stronger and updated flu shots.<\/p>\n

The CDC recommends that everyone get the flu shot within October. So, there is still time to get your senior loved ones flu vaccinated.<\/p>\n

If you are afraid of the side effects, read through the linked page just above. But be sure that the effects are minimal. So, seniors can get back to their previous lives without any issue.<\/p>\n

2. Wash hands frequently<\/h3>\n

By now, we must\u2019ve gotten accustomed to hand washing and sanitizing. If we want to consider some positive effects of Covid-19, this would be one of them. Frequent hand washes can save you from many other viruses as well.<\/p>\n

The best way to do this is by\u00a0washing your hands in soap and water<\/a>. You can also use sanitizers made from mild alcohol. Wash them for 20 continuous seconds. And you are good to go.<\/p>\n

3. Get into the healthy habits<\/h3>\n

We understand you have been maintaining healthy habits for over a year now. So, why stop? Continue following the healthy habits that you have built up during the pandemic.<\/p>\n

A healthy habit can consist of a healthy diet, exercise and cleanliness. Seniors must maintain all these every day of their lives. On top of everything, ensuring a healthy mental condition is also crucial. You have to keep the elders under your care safe from all health and safety hazards.<\/p>\n

\"how\n
Ready for flu season<\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n

4. Disinfect your surroundings<\/h3>\n

This is a part of your healthy habits. But we are separating this due to its extreme significance. It would help if you remembered that sanitizing your hands is not enough. You will also need to keep your surroundings free of the Influenza virus.<\/p>\n

Disinfecting can keep the whole family free of germs and viruses. As a result, every member will be protected from any viral sickness. So, what does disinfecting include?<\/p>\n

The first task is to disinfect the whole body. If you went out, you would need to sanitize your hands and feet after coming home. The same thing applies to seniors. You can use a disinfecting spray for this job.<\/p>\n

Other activities involve keeping the home clean. This mainly includes disinfecting things that seniors often touch. It can be their glasses. It can be their mobile phones. Or it can be doorknobs, electric switches, remote controls and others.<\/p>\n

5. Try to enhance the immune system<\/h3>\n

As mentioned already, the immune system in seniors becomes weak with age. This makes them prone to catching the flu virus. So, they are more at risk than young adults.<\/p>\n

So, what can they do to enhance their immune system? There are many ways to boost the immune system. It may not currently be in the best state when seniors were young. But they will surely feel the newfound strength.<\/p>\n

The best way to stay immune is to sleep, drink and eat properly. At first, you must ensure that the senior of the house is well-rested and mentally at peace. Then, make sure that seniors are following healthy diets, including\u00a0sugar alternative<\/a>\u00a0foods. You can find more\u00a0health tips<\/a>\u00a0for seniors on our website.<\/p>\n

6. Wear a mask outside<\/h3>\n

This goes without saying that nobody should leave home without a mask. This is even more serious for our elders. Both flu and coronavirus are dangerous for seniors. As a result, covering the mouth when outside is a must.<\/p>\n

This also involves practicing health safety measures outside. For example, caregivers can teach seniors to use tissues or their elbows when sneezing or coughing. And another critical task is to wash or sanitize the hands every time after sneezing.<\/p>\n

7. Be patient and hang in there<\/h3>\n

Unlike summers, cold seasons tend to be short. If you hate the scorching heat of the summer, this may dishearten you. But it is also a positive sign.<\/p>\n

Short winters mean that the flu season will be there for a short time. As a result, you can also expect to heal from any seasonal viral infection sooner. So, just hang in there and follow the disease control prevention tips just for a few months of winter.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Things You Should Not Do During the Flu Season<\/span><\/h2>\n

We talked about the dos of flu season. These are to-dos that everyone must follow, especially the seniors. But there is also some don\u2019ts of flu season. So here are some things you should not do, particularly during the flu season.<\/p>\n