The Truth About the Flu

It’s that time of year again – the onslaught of flu shot propaganda has begun and most people are either annoyed or confused as to why every year they are told a shot in the arm could be the difference between life and death. So my next few blog entries will focus on clearing up any confusion and giving you the truth about the flu, the shot, and why it all matters.

To begin with, I think it’s important to understand what influenza actually is. All too often, people get a bad cold and are convinced they have “the flu”. Why does this matter? When people misunderstand what the flu actually is, they also dismiss the need to protect themselves and their loved ones from it. So let’s clear up the confusion:

Influenza = The Flu = Full Body Misery

• High fever

• Body aches

• Nausea/vomiting

• Dizziness

• Fatigue

• Stuffy Nose

• Cough

• Headache

The Common Cold = Upper Body Irritation

• Headache

• Stuffy or Runny Nosr

• Cough

• Chest Congestion

The long and short of it: If you are well enough to get out of bed, you probably just have a bad cold. If not, the flu is a definitely a possibility. Even if you have the flu, what’s all the fuss about a few days in bed?

For the average, healthy adult the flu is usually a few days of misery that may require some drugs and sleep, but that eventually passes with no harm done. However, for many people that is not always the case. Small children, pregnant women, and the elderly do not have the advantages of a fully functioning immune system to help them battle the flu. The same applies to individuals with an immune system weakened by chemotherapy, HIV or similar auto-immune diseases. This means that the flu poses a much more serious threat to these populations. Not only will they become sicker for a longer period of time, but their bodies become so consumed with fighting off the flu, they are left open to other diseases, like pneumonia, that attack their already weakened systems. Most deaths from the flu do not occur because of the flu itself, but because of these complications.

Now, I know what you’re thinking – if I am not one of these at-risk populations, why do I care? Well, chances are even if you are not one of those at risk people, you probably come in contact with at least one member of an at-risk group in your day to day life. Your grandmother, a coworker with children, or simply a stranger on the subway can all be people in your daily life at risk from the dangerous complications of the flu.

But wait, you say – if I’m that sick, I’m going to stay at home! I can just avoid coming in contact with people until I’m feeling better – I don’t need a flu shot. Get ready for some mind blowing truth, my friends: You are actually contagious for up to 3 days before your symptoms develop. The long and short of it: There is no way to truly protect yourself or the at-risk people around you from the dangers of the flu other than 1) wearing a face mask 5 months of the year or 2) getting a flu shot.

Stay tuned next week when we will discuss common misconceptions about the shot itself in “Flu shot: Fact vs Fiction”