When Does Cold and Flu Season Begin and How Long Does It Last?
Do you have a nagging cough that’s keeping you up at night? Is your temperature more than 100 degrees? Do you feel exhausted all the time?
Every year, more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from the flu. Winter can be a dangerous time of year.
If this year’s cold and flu season is getting you down, this article’s for you. We’ll give you the inside scoop on how long flu season lasts and what you can do to take care of yourself.
Flu season typically starts in October, but how long does the flu season last? Unfortunately, it can continue through May.
If you’re a senior citizen, you could be at a higher risk for the flu. The influenza virus attacks people with vulnerable immune systems like seniors and young children.
Other groups at risk include heart and liver patients, pregnant and nursing mothers, and people who are extremely overweight.
Even if you feel healthy, you should still get a flu shot. You could be transmitting the sickness to your family or co-workers.
Symptoms of the flu include a high temperature, headache, and sore throat. You might also have a cough and high temperature that won’t go away.
Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is not the same as stomach flu. Stomach flu causes diarrhea and vomiting, but influenza has a different set of symptoms.
If you have influenza symptoms during flu season, it’s a good idea to seek treatment immediately. You might have to take a few days off work, rest and take medication.
During the flu season peak last year, almost 1 million people ended up in the hospital. If you think that you have the flu, it’s important to see a doctor.
Keep yourself hydrated and try to get some rest. You shouldn’t go out in public until your fever breaks, so stay in bed if you can.
Take the time to wash your hands frequently and clean all hard surfaces in your home with bleach. Bleach will kill the flu virus on contact.
You can also dilute bleach with water and spray it on your walls. You should also wash your bedding if you’re not feeling well, along with all bath towels and dish towels.
The most important thing to do in preparation for cold and flu season is to get a flu shot. Coastal Urgent Care of Bossier can give you the shot.
As long as your infant is six months or older, they can also get a flu shot. It takes about seven days for the flu shot to become effective, so get vaccinated as soon as possible.
If you have any flu-like symptoms, let your urgent care doctor know immediately. If your exhaustion is severe and became worse very quickly, you could have the flu instead of a cold.
We treat patients of any age, and we accept walk-in appointments. If you have a persistent headache, trouble eating or drinking, or dehydration, contact us and see us as soon as possible at Coastal Urgent Care of Bossier.
