Benefits of the flu shot and winter health tips

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends getting a yearly flu shot as the most important step in protecting against the flu. Read on to discover the benefits of flu shots, other ways to prevent the flu, and health and wellness tips for winter.

What are the benefits of getting the flu shot?

• Prevention - Getting a flu shot may prevent you from getting the flu and can also help prevent the spread of flu to others.
• How long do flu shots last?
  According to the NHS, protection from flu shots goes down with time – but the main reason it’s recommended you get the flu shot every year is that the types of flu virus the vaccine protects against are updated each year.

• Helpful for pregnant mothers - For those pregnant mothers who get the flu shot, it has been proven that their babies face a lower risk of being hospitalised within their first few months.

• Helpful for people with asthma - The flu shot can reduce asthma attacks that lead to emergency visits and/or hospitalizations for people with asthma.
  
  
• Staying healthy in winter - According to the latest report ‘National Flu’ conducted by Public Health England: Influenza vaccine in targeted groups was 46.7% in under 65 years in a clinical risk group, 44.8% in pregnant women and 71.2% in those aged 65 years and over.

How to prevent the flu:

• Wash your hands - Hand hygiene is paramount when trying to prevent the flu and stay healthy in winter, so be sure to wash your hands often with plenty of soap and water.

• Use hand sanitizer - Carrying an alcohol-based hand sanitizer can be useful in situations where a sink is unavailable. This can prove to be crucial for both flu prevention and germ prevention.

• Get some exercise - Getting regular exercise can be a great way of keeping your immune system strong. This can be beneficial in helping your body’s defence against the flu.
  
  

Lastly, here are some quick tips on how to get back to full health if you do get the flu:

• Extra rest - Plenty of rest and a good night’s sleep is crucial and can help you get back to full health quickly.

• Eat well and drink plenty of fluids - Eating healthy food will be a big boost for your immune system and don’t forget to drink lots of water. We also recommend drinking hot tea with honey and lemon.