Click here for the original post.
Q: Hi Dr Edelberg. I’m a semi-retired woman, age 62, with no real health problems. Do I need to get a flu shot?
A: Absolutely yes, and try to get yours as soon as possible. According to the Centers for Disease Control, the flu is currently making its annual visit to the US and this year’s immunization looks as if it might cover the virus.
As we get older, flu is harder on us. It’s a virus that moves throughout our bodies, unlike the cold virus, which pretty much remains in our respiratory tract. The flu virus is also quite contagious and (you may have noticed) there are a lot of people out there who all seem to be coughing at once.
Many pharmacies now offer flu shots. If you’re a WholeHealth Chicago patient, stop by the office any Monday through Thursday and ask for one (it’s a good idea to call first to make sure our supplies aren’t exhausted).
Finally, if and when the flu does hit, if you’re not immunized and start coming down with symptoms, call your doctor ASAP for a Tamiflu prescription. This is a potent antiviral (and quite safe, actually) that will reduce your symptoms and shorten the course of your illness.
For more information on flu, click here.