When was the last time you had the flu? And what were you thinking while lying in bed, running a fever and so tired to get up?
In between sneezing and wheezing, I bet you were thinking how stupid you were for not getting a flu shot.
Maybe not exactly stupid, but definitely reckless. You were too sure of yourself, like most of us; that you won’t get down with it.
The flu virus is disrespectful. It knows no sex, race, or age. It infects indiscriminately, like an amok on a killing spree. And if you are an elderly person, you stand a good chance of becoming a casualty.
Why?
Because getting the flu makes you vulnerable to more serious complications.
But before dwelling on something that you should avoid as much as you can, you must know what you are up against and why you must protect yourself against it.
What is Flu
“Flu, or influenza, is a highly contagious viral infection that mainly affects the respiratory system.” –
It is usually seasonal and kills hundreds of thousands of people, worldwide, during outbreaks. In recent years, between 12,000 to 56,000, annually, have died in the U.S.
One of the earliest reports of the disease dates back to the time of Hippocrates (circa 410 B.C.) to describe an influenza-like illness that ravaged northern Greece.
But the word “flu” came from the words “influenza di freddo” or “cold influence” to describe the epidemic which occurred in Florence, Italy, in 1357.
Medicine and science poured much interest and resources into the disease due to its virulence and its rate of spreading.
Finally, in 1931, researchers concluded that the flu virus came from pigs, and in 1933, they isolated the virus from people.
There are four types of flu viruses: Type A and B, which is responsible for the seasonal outbreaks in people, Type C, which is relatively rare, and Type D, which primarily infects cattle.
The swine flu virus made its U.S. debut in April 2009 and never left. It is called the 2009H1N1
To date, the viruses seem to be pretty much under control – until they mutate into something different, requiring a different treatment approach.
Which gives you even more reason to have an annual flu shot.
Flu Symptoms
At the outset, flu symptoms mimic that of the common cold because they share the same symptoms. But while the common cold develops slowly, flu tends to come suddenly. The common cold may drag you down a bit, but the flu makes it agonizing to get out of bed.
To help you cope with the flu more effectively, watch out for these symptoms:
- Fever over 100.4 F (38 C)
- Aching muscles
- Chills and sweats
- Headache
- Dry, persistent cough
- Fatigue and weakness
- Nasal congestion
- Sore throat
Why is a flu shot important
Since four or five years ago, I’ve been having an annual flu vaccination – doctor’s orders. And I can’t say “No” to her because she’s my daughter. LOL!
Being afraid of needles (we all are), I was hesitant at first. But after weighing the Pros and Cons, I relented.
Here’s why…
1. Flu is a serious health risk
Records from the CDC show that 70 to 85% of flu-related deaths and 54 to 70% of flu-related hospitalization involve people 65 years old and above.
Your odds of becoming a statistic is greatly reduced by having a flu shot.
Because age weakens your immune systems, a simple case of flu can quickly develop into a severe illness. It may even result in an untimely death.
3. A flu shot minimizes its severity
Even if the flu vaccine isn’t 100% effective, it’s still worthwhile. Research shows that if someone who is vaccinated gets the flu, it will not be as virulent.
People 65 and older are at high risk of serious flu complications and account for the majority of flu hospitalizations and deaths each year according to the CDC.
But seniors who got the flu shot reduced their risk of being hospitalized by 50%. That’s a huge difference.
4. As protection against serious complications
Flu can result in a more severe form of pneumonia. In fact, people aged 65 and above, smoke and with diabetes should get a pneumococcal vaccination on top of the flu shot to prevent this from happening. This is a one-shot deal and should only be done per doctor’s orders.
Other than pneumonia, flu can cause the development of these complications:
- Sinus and ear infections
- Pneumonia
- Inflammation of the heart, brain, or muscle tissues
- It can result in multiple organ failure
- Or infect the respiratory tract
- Flu can worsen chronic medical condition like asthma or heart disease worse
5. The flu shot is free
If the above reasons won’t convince you to have a flu shot, this should – it is free.
The flu shot is free to all children and those at grave risk like elderly people like you. All you have to do is to go to the nearest government health centers to inquire how to avail of it.
If you have medical insurance and want to avoid the hassle of going to a government health center, the Affordable Care Act requires insurers to cover the cost of flu shots of members without a copay.
Note: Some insurers, however, only cover vaccines given by doctors or at certain locations.
As necessary it might be, the flu shot is not advisable for:
- People who had a previous life-threatening reaction to the vaccine
- Those who experienced severe oculo-respiratory syndrome (red eyes, cough or and/or severe throat hoarseness) after having the vaccine
- People getting a checkpoint inhibitor (a form of cancer immunotherapy currently under development)
- Those who developed GBS (Guillain-Barré Syndrome) within 8 weeks of getting a flu shot without any other identifiable cause. The GBS can result in weakness and paralysis of the body’s muscles.
Like you, I have had several bouts of the flu before – when I was younger and my immune system was at its peak. Like you, I rode it out after a good massage and a couple of paracetamols.
But those were the days. Now I can’t afford to ruin my health and well-being for something not any more painful than a mosquito bite.
And neither can you.
~oOo~
