The nights move in, the jumpers are outside and winter diseases are already bubbling up. But if you believe that the flu season beats as soon as the leaves fall, you could be surprised.
While colds and sniffing may appear earlier, the highlight of the flu usually comes to a head than many people later.
We tend to climb every cough and sneeze under the roof “flu”, but real influenza behaves differently. It can suddenly meet and feel wiped out and in some cases very uncomfortable.
So when should you prepare for the flu season? And which practical steps make the biggest difference when it begins in circulation?
When the flu season really begins
According to Dr. Kaywaan Khan, private GP and founder of the Hannah London Clinic on Harley Street, tends the flu around mid-November, December and sometimes even until January. “This is what we really see that affects us in hospitals and where we have the winter crisis,” he says to Yahoo UK.
The NHS vaccination programs are designed in this sense. “We endeavor to vaccinate school children as soon as they return to school in September. And for older adults it is October … which they are preparing for November and tries to reduce the hospital burden in November.”
How to prepare for the flu season
Although we cannot completely avoid it, there are simple things that we can do beforehand and even if we catch the flu. Here Dr. Khan practical advice to reduce their risk, treat symptoms and know when to get help.
1. Learn to recognize flu compared to a cold
To be able to recognize the difference means that you can rest and avoid early to spread flu on others.
“You will be hit with the flu pretty quickly. People tend to remember exactly when they noticed it for the first time … Suddenly said, I felt really uncomfortable,” he said, adding that many described that the feeling suddenly turned out without warning.
“While he says with a cold that it is gradually.” They say I just had a few sniffing, my neck is a bit sore, I feel a little tired. “
We described the differences between covid and flu here.
2. Book your flu early
Vaccination is offered to some adults and children with a higher risk every autumn or early winter to make themselves more difficult due to the flu. This is the most effective way to protect yourself and it has to be done from cases.
The NHS-Grippe vaccine program begins from October 1, while children and pregnant women were able to get the vaccine from September 1st, and Dr. Khan advises everyone who has a high risk of groups to make this priority. According to NHS, the vaccine usually lasts up to 14 days.
“Those who have a higher risk [the flu]'”, says Dr. Khan.
Flu can hit everyone, but certain groups are at risk of becoming seriously ill, such as those: the:
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are 65 years or more (including those who will be 65 by March 31, 2026)
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Have certain long -term health states
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are the main supervisor for an older or disabled person or receive the allowance of a supervisor
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Live with someone who has a weakened immune system with greater probability to be exposed to complications
Your weight can also make you more susceptible to flu. “And these underweight people have already weakened immunity.”
The NHS recommends getting the flu vaccination every year. (Getty Images)
3 .. move where possible
Mobility plays a surprisingly large role in protecting your lungs. Asthma + Lung UK notes that your muscles need less oxygen when building strength to work, which means that you can breathe more easily during activity. “The lungs work better when they move,” explains Dr. Khan.
“If you do not move your body or have an illness, it is difficult in regular movement, mucus can build up in the lungs, and you have more serious lung infection.”
4. Quiet and charging with sleep and vitamin D.
“If you don’t sleep a lot or have bad sleep patterns, you are so much more susceptible to infection,” says Dr. Khan. This is because Deep Sleep helps the body to release proteins in combating infections and rebuild immune cells.
He adds that nutrients are also important: “It is so important that your vitamins are at a good level. If it is now the autumn season and you are worried about getting sick, healthy, healthy food, your oranges, your fruits and also your vitamin -D nutritional supplements.”
Low vitamin D is common in Great Britain as soon as sunlight falls and can leave the immune system under prepared.
5. Forget not simple hygiene habits
Hand washing and basic hygiene are still important.
“Your vaccines are in one direction; hand washing, hand hygiene and breathing hygiene are the others. Sometimes they wear a mask if they are different with people who feel uncomfortable to protect themselves,” says Dr. Khan.
If you take simple steps now, you can avoid the worst flu this winter. (Getty Images)
And if the basics don’t help …
Most cases of flu can be managed at home – but it is important to know when more help is needed.
“From a medical point of view, the main thing that we recommend is to stay warm, hydrated and take paracetamol,” says Dr. Khan.
But some people may need more. “Those who have more serious infections can also ask their family doctor an early dose of antiviral drugs.
A pharmacist can give treatment advice and recommend flu memory, but contact your family doctor after the NHS or call 111 if you or your child have symptoms of flu and:
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They are worried about the symptoms of their baby or child
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You have a long -term illness
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You have a weakened immune system – for example because of chemotherapy or HIV
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Your symptoms do not improve after 7 days
Read more about cold and flu: