Elderly Health

Influenza is a contagious viral illness that usually causes high fever, chills, sore throat, cough, muscle and headache pain, and tiredness. The main serious complication of the flu is pneumonia. The flu can also make existing chronic health problems worse and increase deaths from lung and heart diseases in the winter (1)(2) . People at higher risk for flu complications include older adults, very young children, pregnant women, and those with chronic conditions like diabetes, severe obesity, heart or lung diseases, and weakened immune systems. Flu treatment mainly involves rest and care to manage any complications, like pneumonia or breathing problems. The best way to protect yourself is to get a flu vaccine every year. The vaccine helps prevent the flu and its complications and also reduces how much the flu spreads to others. Flu season usually starts in the fall (October-November) and peaks in winter (December-January) (3). Because flu viruses change each year, the vaccine must be updated and taken annually (4).