The time is NOW to protect yourself from the flu
By BobbieJo Paul, Family Nurse Practitioner, ATI Active Care
The best way to prevent illness from the flu is to receive the vaccine. This vaccine is needed every year to help protect against the strains of influenza that are expected to make a person very ill for that flu season. The flu can cause a person to miss work, become hospitalized, or even can cause death. Additionally, it is very important for those who provide health care, or are in contact with young children or elderly, to protect themselves and others by getting vaccinated.
What is the Flu?
The flu is a respiratory disease that is easily transmitted with coughing, sneezing or talking. If the virus is on a surface you touch, and you subsequently touch your mouth, nose or eyes without washing your hands, you can also become infected.
The flu infects airways, nose, throat, and lungs. Typical symptoms are feeling fever/chills, headaches, fatigue, body aches, cough, sore throat, and runny nose. Sometimes a person can also have stomach issues (vomiting and diarrhea). The flu can be spread as little as one day before a person presents with symptoms, and is contagious for up to 5-7 additional days when symptoms are present.
For those who elect not to get a flu shot, the next best prevention is frequent and thorough hand washing.
If you have flu symptoms seeing your provider quickly is important. To provide benefit, an antiviral medication needs to be started during the first two days of the illness.
$30 Flu shots are available now at ATI Active Care!
Balance must be paid with cash, debit card or credit card. If flu shots are covered by your insurance, ATI Active Care will bill your insurance provider for reimbursement. Check with your insurance company if you have questions about coverage. Other exceptions may apply. ATI Active Health is managed by Activate Healthcare.
For more information on ATI Active Care, contact BobbieJo Paul, Family Nurse Practitioner at bobbiejopaul@activatehealthcare.com or call (262) 574-2711.
For more information about the flu, please visit www.cdc.gov.