The chill of winter will soon be setting in and, with that, comes the rise of cozy sweaters, hot cocoa, and fuzzy blankets. However, fall and winter also mark the beginning of the cold and flu season, which can put a serious damper on seasonal activities.
There are two key things a person can do to prepare for the upcoming flu and cold season to reduce the chances of themselves getting sick, said Dr. John Lynch, medical director of Harborview Medical Center Infection Control. First, find a place to get the flu shot. Both Hall Health and many pharmacies and grocery stores offer inexpensive, walk-in flu shots.
“The influenza vaccine provides both person and population protection,” Lynch said. “The more people that get vaccinated, the more powerful it is.
The vaccine offers immunity to the most prevalent flu viruses, Lynch said, but also makes it harder for the virus to spread in a community. Often, those who are unable to receive the vaccine due to existing medical conditions are also in the most need of protection against the flu, which may have more serious health effects for them. Decreasing their exposure to the flu virus is the best option.
Lynch disagrees with the common misconception that getting the flu vaccine can give you the flu.
“People do develop a sore muscle or low-grade fever sometimes, but those are evidence of an immune response, not low-grade infection,” Lynch said.
The influenza vaccine does not protect against every circulating flu virus, which is why people can be vaccinated and still get sick, Lynch said. In order to combat the less common flu viruses not protected by the vaccine and prevent seasonal colds, people should continue to practice proper hand hygiene, especially before eating.
Washing your hands is especially important to prevent the seasonal cold. A vaccine is impractical because so many viruses cause symptoms of the cold, and a cold is rarely life-threatening, said Jason Smith, UW assistant professor of microbiology.
While the cold primarily stuffs up your nose, the flu is more dangerous because it infects the respiratory system below the shoulders, including the lungs, and is more likely to lead to pneumonia, Smith said.
“It may be inconvenient to breathe through your mouth rather than your nose, but you won’t have an inability to get oxygen [with a cold],” Smith said. “The issue [with the flu] is if your airway itself is blocked that low in the respiratory tract, it can affect your ability to get oxygen, so it can be more life-threatening.”
Most people recover from the flu or cold without the help of medical professionals, but it’s important to know when to contact a doctor. Symptoms can last normally a week or two, said Lynn Sorrenson, nurse manager at Hall Health, which can often make patients worry they’re not getting better soon enough.
“It’s often based on the symptoms getting worse,” Sorrenson said. “Again, symptoms can last over a number of days, but if you’re coughing so much you’re not getting any rest at night; if your fever has been at a 100 or 101 for a couple days, or higher; if your throat is so sore that you can’t even swallow liquids; or especially if you’re having any trouble breathing or feeling any shortness of breath, we want to see you.”
The best thing to do for yourself is to get plenty of rest and fluids, Sorrenson said. Stay home to prevent the spread of the illness to other people. For those worried about missing class, Hall Health will write excused absences.
“They do have to come in and talk to a nurse, but they don’t have to come in when they’re deathly ill,” said Sorrenson. “If they’re sick and they know it’s a really bad cold or figure it’s the flu, [they should] stay home and take care of themselves. Come in the day after or the next day.”
Still, rather than rely on medical help or absence notes, it’s best to get the flu vaccine early in the season, as students may be able to avoid the impact of flu season entirely.
Everyone over six months of age, particularly college students, should get the vaccine, Sorrenson said. Due to the dense population on campus, college students are at high risk to catch the flu. Unless they’re immunocompromised or allergic to one of the ingredients in the vaccine, such as eggs, there’s no reason not to receive it.
“There’s many opportunities to get the flu vaccine, and one of them is here at Hall Health,” Sorrenson said. “There’s pharmacies and stores all over the area that offer them as well.”
Those afraid of needles should not worry: Hall Health also offers a needle-free delivery method using nasal spray. Flu vaccines are available 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays at Hall Health. An appointment isn’t necessary, but patients should check-in at the Patience Service Center. Pharmacies such as the Walgreens at 1205 NE 50th St. also offer flu vaccines, and they accept walk-ins.
Reach writer Emma Bueren at wellness@dailyuw.com. Twitter: @EmBueren
