Advice for healthy habits

From The Publisher

The flu bug ran wild through my house a few weeks ago.

It started with my daughter at school and found my wife in two short days, thereafter.

Caroline’s school was hit hard with many children diagnosed with the flu virus.

Miraculously, I was able to hide from its grasp even as a couple of my co-workers were infected this year.

I believe most of us in our community can share similar war stories this flu season.

For those of us who were lucky enough to avoid it we need to still take precautions.

Debora Moore, PA, Urgent Care of Madison, is treating cases of the flu still today. She has seen the flu season last as long as the beginning of May.

Moore shared this year’s flu vaccine was a mismatch with the virus, but the vaccine is still important to help fight and in some cases shorten the illness.

Moore recommends the following additional steps to take preventative care against influenza.

• If you are sick with the flu, Moore recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care.
• Moore recommends washing your hands with soap and water regularly.
• Moore recommends flushing or washing your nostrils with a saline nasal spray.
• Moore recommends disinfecting all of those commonly touched items in your household such as doorknobs, TV remote controls, and gaming controllers. She also recommends washing your hands with soap and water regularly.
• Moore recommends taking Vitamin C to help improve your immune system. She also recommends getting plenty of rest, exercising, and eating healthy as other preventative measures.

Madison has many great healthcare options for our medical needs. Please seek your local physicians advice on best practices to meet your own needs.

These recommendations can help improve all of our chances of staying healthy this year and next.