{"id":42397,"date":"2017-01-11T16:54:08","date_gmt":"2017-01-11T21:54:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/?p=42397"},"modified":"2017-01-11T16:54:08","modified_gmt":"2017-01-11T21:54:08","slug":"common-flu-myths-to-forget","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/2017\/01\/common-flu-myths-to-forget\/","title":{"rendered":"Common Flu Myths To Forget"},"content":{"rendered":"

By: Dr. Chad Masters, MD, MBA, MedExpress<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"With cooler weather and holiday get-togethers, comes a higher risk for flu and flu-like illnesses, or \u201cflu imposters.\u201d\u00a0 And, each season I hear many of the same concerns or misconceptions from patients regarding the flu.\u00a0 That\u2019s why I\u2019ve compiled this list of \u201ccommon flu myths\u201d \u2212 to not only debunk them but to help educate patients so we can put these myths to bed and have a healthy season.<\/p>\n

Myth #1:<\/strong><\/p>\n

I don\u2019t need a shot. I haven\u2019t gotten the flu yet.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Truth:<\/strong><\/p>\n

That\u2019s great you haven\u2019t had the flu, but each year the strain is different, so just because you haven\u2019t had the flu yet, doesn\u2019t mean you won\u2019t ever. There\u2019s also another really important reason to get a flu shot \u2212 and that\u2019s for the people around you\u2014children, pregnant women, coworkers, elderly individuals or anyone with a compromised immune system. Getting the flu shot is a healthy choice for you, your family and the entire community. The more people who protect against the virus, the less flu in general \u2013 which is good for everyone.<\/p>\n

Myth #2:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Flu season hasn\u2019t really hit yet, so I should wait until later in the year or when flu peaks to get one.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Truth:<\/strong><\/p>\n

The best time to get a shot is before the season actually starts because it takes two weeks for the body\u2019s immune system to fully protect against the flu.\u00a0Flu season can start as early as September but generally peaks in January or February and can last until May. It\u2019s a long season, which means that those who haven\u2019t received a flu shot are at increased risk for contracting the flu.<\/p>\n

Myth #3:<\/strong><\/p>\n

If I get the shot, I will get the flu.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Truth:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Flu vaccines given with a needle, which is the recommended method, are either made with the inactive flu virus or no virus at all. This means you will not get the flu from getting a shot. There may be some minor side effects, however. The most common are soreness, redness, swelling where the shot was given, low-grade fever, headache or muscle aches. It\u2019s easy for some to confuse these symptoms with the flu, but they are side effects that go away rather quickly.<\/p>\n

Myth #4:<\/strong><\/p>\n

The flu is spread through dirty surfaces.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Truth:<\/strong><\/p>\n

While the flu virus can live for a time on surfaces or objects, it is most commonly spread through droplets in the air caused by sneezing, coughing or even talking. The droplets can land in the mouths or noses of nearby people, which is why it is so important to cover your mouth when you sneeze or a cough.<\/p>\n

Myth #5:<\/strong><\/p>\n

I got a shot last year so I should be covered.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Truth:<\/strong><\/p>\n

The vaccine is different each year because the flu strain is different each year. It\u2019s important to get a flu shot each and every year to protect against the flu virus. It\u2019s good for you and it\u2019s good for those around you, limiting the opportunity to spread the virus further.<\/p>\n

And remember,\u00a0flu may seem like a bad cold, but it is often accompanied by extra symptoms like high fever, headache, body aches and feeling completely wiped out. Because it can cause more serious health complications, such as pneumonia, sinusitis or dehydration, it is advised to seek medical attention if you are experiencing any flu-like symptoms.<\/p>\n

Aside from the flu shot, the best ways to beat the flu are to\u00a0get plenty of sleep, eat well,\u00a0disinfect shared surfaces\u00a0and wash your hands often with soap and warm water.<\/p>\n

By: Dr. Chad Masters, MD, MBA, is a Regional Medical Director for MedExpress, a national leader in providing walk-in health care. He has held numerous medical leadership roles throughout his career and has been a contributor to the medical education field as both an adjunct professor at Nova Southeastern University and assistant professor at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville. He is an expert in health and wellness programs and medical quality.<\/em><\/p>\n

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a physician. It is information that is generally available. Each person has unique medical needs based on several factors including age, genetics, body type and build, medications, exposures to illness and medical history, to name a few. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition that you are experiencing. If you are suffering from a non-emergent medical situation, it is suggested that you visit the nearest MedExpress center or your family physician. If you believe you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911.<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By: Dr. Chad Masters, MD, MBA, MedExpress With cooler weather and holiday get-togethers, comes a higher risk for flu and flu-like illnesses, or \u201cflu imposters.\u201d\u00a0 And, each season I hear… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":42398,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42397"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=42397"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42397\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/42398"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=42397"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=42397"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=42397"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}