As many as one in five Americans ends up suffering from the flu each year and more than 200,000 people are hospitalized due to flu-related complications, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Most cases result in a few days in bed, which is far from rest and relaxation for the do-it-all mom. When the flu bug bites mom, it can seriously impact the family, as she may not be able to care for the home and kids as she normally does.

“Moms today are busier than ever and the No. 1 thing they’re looking for is convenience,” says Dr. Lucy Crane, Walgreens corporate medical director. “A seasonal flu shot is the best protection against getting the virus and now it’s quick and easy to stop by a neighborhood pharmacy like Walgreens to get one. We know the critical role moms play every day and when mom is down and out, the whole family usually suffers.”

As the holiday season approaches, moms are reminded of the many reasons they should make time for themselves to receive a flu shot – to protect themselves and the ones they love:

• Holiday celebrations – From Halloween to New Year’s Eve, there are endless feasts and festivals with family and friends. To keep the good times rolling, roll up your sleeve for a flu shot, get plenty of rest to help keep your immune system strong and keep anti-bacterial wipes handy in kitchens and bathrooms for yourselves and guests.
• Travel – Traveling is a notorious way to swap germs with strangers. Seasonal flu vaccinations and good habits, like frequent and thorough hand-washing or use of hand sanitizers, drinking plenty of water and coughing or sneezing into tissues (and then throwing them away) are the best defenses against bringing an unwanted passenger on your trip.
• Job and career – Sick kids or sick moms can result in use of sick days (if you have them) or lost wages. For working moms, it’s important to stay healthy and bring home the bacon, and not the flu, too. Urge co-workers to get seasonal flu shots to reduce overall risk of picking up more than a paycheck at work.

Getting a seasonal flu shot is a lot easier than it used to be, with pharmacies, clinics and even airports among those now offering this important service.

Walgreens has taken a leadership role in flu prevention, assembling a network of 16,000 certified immunizers, made up of pharmacists, physician’s assistants and nurse practitioners. Seasonal flu shots are $24.99 and may be covered by insurance plans as well as Medicare Part B. For the latest information on seasonal flu and to find a local store offering seasonal flu shots, visit www.Walgreens.com/flu.

No matter how busy you are, your family and friends will thank you for arming yourself against the seasonal flu this year.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

While the 2009 H1N1 virus continues to dominate headlines, many U.S. adults still have questions about seasonal flu, including prevention steps and the effectiveness of the vaccine, according to a recent survey from the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID). Additionally, a separate survey from The Clorox Company found that nearly half of adults believe that the 2009 H1N1 virus is the same as seasonal flu.

“It’s no secret that this year’s flu season is complicated. With multiple vaccines, we want to help families easily understand the right steps to help prevent the spread of the flu,” said Heather McKenzie, RN, Visiting Nurse Associations of America’s Senior Director of Clinical Education and Quality Initiatives.

Seasonal flu is a serious infection – it is the leading cause of vaccine-preventable deaths for children, killing on average 100 American children less than five years old every year and hospitalizing over 20,000. Vaccination is the first step in flu prevention. In fact, last year the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expanded their flu vaccination recommendations to include all children from 6 months through 18 years old.

Take Prevention Steps at Home
Some flu vaccine manufacturers are reporting a delay in their shipments of seasonal flu vaccine, meaning it might take a little longer than usual for the vaccination to be available in some areas. This makes it even more important to practice these other simple steps to help prevent the spread of the seasonal and H1N1 flu viruses in the home:

• Wash Hands Frequently: Wash hands with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds (the time it takes to sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice).
• Disinfect Germ Hot Spots: Disinfect the surfaces kids touch most frequently – like doorknobs, faucets or plastic toys.
• Do the Elbow Cough: Cough and sneeze into your elbow instead of your hands to help prevent the spread of germs from touch.
• Follow Good Health Guidelines: Eat right, exercise and get plenty of sleep to help boost your body’s ability to fight the effects of colds and the flu.

Help Your Family Say “Boo!” to the Flu this Halloween
To increase the number of families vaccinated against seasonal flu and educate parents on other flu prevention steps, the Visiting Nurse Associations of America, Families Fighting Flu and The Clorox Company teamed up again for Say “Boo!” to the Flu. The family-friendly program is larger than ever this year and even offers an updated, comprehensive online flu resource.

Online at www.SayBooToTheFlu.com, parents can take a pledge to vaccinate their families and help spread prevention in their communities. They can also find out where they can get vaccinated in their areas and get up-to-the minute information to help navigate this flu season, including news updates from the CDC.

“My wife and I didn’t realize how important one flu vaccination could be until we lost our daughter, Amanda, to the seasonal flu,” said Richard Kanowitz, President of Families Fighting Flu. “We are committed to educating parents about the importance of getting their families vaccinated against both the seasonal flu and the 2009 H1N1 virus. I urge all parents to visit www.SayBooToTheFlu.com, pledge to help their families stay healthier this flu season and find out if there is a flu vaccination event in their area.”

Courtesy of ARAcontent

While the words “swine flu” and “pandemic flu” are enough to scare adults and children, experts from Everest College’s nursing programs explain what H1N1 is, and offer some advice for how to protect yourself and your children from it.

What is H1N1?
H1N1 virus, more commonly known as “swine flu,” is a new strand of influenza that has been labeled a pandemic flu by the World Health Organization because of its international reach. It is expected to be the major strand of flu infecting people this flu season. Symptoms of H1N1 include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue.

“It is important to realize that the swine flu is just one strand of influenza. In that way, it is like the other strains of flu that hit the U.S. every fall and winter,” says Darlene Mention, RN, MSN and nursing instructor at Everest University in Brandon, Fla. She explains that, like other forms of the flu, H1N1 is contagious and spreads from human-to-human contact – specifically, through coughing, sneezing or surface contact. She adds, however, that the word “pandemic” simply means that the H1N1 has international reach, and not that it is particularly more dangerous than other forms of the flu.

Who is at risk for H1N1?
“Like other strains of influenza, H1N1 can cause complications, hospitalization and even death, so it is important to take precautionary measures,” says Mention. Each year approximately 36,000 people in the U.S. die from flu-related complications, and more than 200,000 people are hospitalized, 20,000 of whom are children less than 5 years old.

Complications from the flu usually arise in high-risk groups, which include children under 5, adults over 65, and adults with chronic conditions such as diabetes or heart disease. According to the Center for Disease Control, approximately 70 percent of those hospitalized with H1N1 this year have or previously had prior medical conditions that place them at “high risk,” including pregnancy, diabetes, heart disease, asthma or kidney disease.

With most strains of the flu, the elderly are particularly at risk. Over 90 percent of deaths and 60 percent of hospitalizations due to the flu occur in those over age 64. But interestingly, many adults over the age of 64 are not considered to be at high risk for complications resulting from H1N1, because approximately one third of adults over 64 are estimated to have existing antibodies to H1N1.

What can you to do protect yourself from H1N1?
“Everyone needs to take basic precautionary measures to prevent contracting H1N1,” says Cheryl Heintz, RN, BSN and nursing instructor at Everest College in Merrillville, Ind. This means you should wash your hands with soap and water often, cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing, avoid touching your eyes, mouth or nose and try to limit contact with sick people. If you cannot wash your hands with soap and water, Heintz suggests that you use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer as a substitute. Studies have shown that many influenza viruses can infect people up to eight hours after they have been deposited on a surface, which means that washing your hands frequently and using disinfectants to clean surfaces is an important way to prevent the spread of the disease.

If you are sick with a flu-like illness, the CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever subsides. “Staying home a full day after your symptoms have cleared not only helps you get back to full health, but also helps prevent the spread of the virus to others,” adds Heintz.

Flu shots against H1N1 are now available in all states, though many states have only a limited supply. Certain groups of individuals are prioritized for the flu vaccine, including pregnant women, people in contact with infants under 6 months old, children and young adults ages 6 to 24, health care workers and emergency medical technicians, and adults younger than 65 with chronic conditions.

“If an H1N1 flu shot is available in your state, you may want to consider getting yourself and your children vaccinated,” says Heintz. The CDC recommends two doses, four weeks apart, for children under 9 years old. For older children and adults, only one dose is needed. While both the flu shot and nasal spray are equally effective, the nasal spray contains a weakened live form of the virus and is only licensed for use for those between the ages of 2 and 49. The CDC advises that adults 50 and over get the flu shot instead, which uses an inactivated form of the virus.

“While the threat of H1N1 shouldn’t be blown out of proportion, it is important to realize the flu affects everyone differently. While most cases are mild, H1N1 can and has caused severe complications, hospitalization and even death. Given this knowledge, we want to do all we can to protect ourselves and our families as flu season approaches,” says Heintz.

Courtesy of ARAcontent