How to Battle Against the Flu & Common Cold Amidst Ever-Rising Cases in the Elderly?

 Seasonal influenza, commonly known as the flu, is one of the most common illnesses among senior citizens. Although flu isn’t usually as severe as other illnesses, it is often known for its extremely frustrating symptoms, including runny nose and sore throat. Hence, here we are, playing our part in gifting the senior readers with winter health tips to protect themselves from such simple but exasperating sicknesses.

What is Flu and How Serious is it?

The flu is a viral respiratory infection that affects the nose, throat, and sometimes the lungs. In most cases, they don’t cause much damage to your body and the recovery time doesn’t exceed a week or, in rare cases, two weeks.

However, seniors who are facing other medical challenges should be wary of the flu, since it has the potential to produce life-threatening consequences. The flu can cause minor problems such as sinus and ear infections. But, in more severe situations, the elder may even be susceptible to pneumonia.

Here are some of the factors that may make you more vulnerable to the flu compared to others:-

·         If you are 65 years old or older

·         If you are dealing with a medical issue such as asthma, diabetes, or chronic kidney disease

·         If you have a heart condition

·         If you have had a stroke

·         If you live in a nursing home or senior care facility

You may be wondering why the flu is more severe in elderly people. The explanation is simple: your immune system weakens with age, which means the barrier that has been protecting you from various diseases and illnesses is beginning to fall off. As a result, while your body fights an illness like the flu, you may get a secondary infection like pneumonia.

Why the flu is more effective during winter?

Everything has an explanation, and similarly, there is a solid reason why the flu becomes far more effective throughout the winter. There are two key reasons for this:

One, because seniors prefer to stay indoors most of the time during the winter, transmission of the sickness becomes simpler. Two, during the summer, the moist air provides adequate resistance to the propagation of an infection. On the other hand, dry air makes it simpler for an infection to spread from one person to another during the winter.

How to prevent the flu?

There are a lot of ways through which a senior might pick up the flu. Hence, here are some of the tips to prevent falling ill during winter:-

·         Avoid overcrowded places.

·         While out in public, wear a face mask and avoid sick individuals.

·         Wash your hands with hot soapy water on a frequent basis.

·         Apply antibacterial gel throughout the day.

·         Avoid touching your mouth, nose, or face with your hands.

·         Eat a balanced diet, exercise frequently, and reduce stress to strengthen your immune system.

·         Disinfect your home's surfaces on a regular basis.

·         If you sense that you’re developing flu symptoms, consult a doctor with immediate effect.

Unsure of the symptoms that usually lead to the flu? Here are some major signs you must never avoid:-

·         Runny nose

·         Chest congestion

·         Sore throat

·         Coughing

·         Migraine

Once you’ve developed the flu, the common symptoms might escalate leading to more severe symptoms:-

·         Fever

·         Body aches

·         Chills

·         Fatigue and weakness

·         Chest pain or discomfort

Foods to avoid in monsoon

There are several foods that can be harmful in cold weather and might be especially dangerous for senior citizens. Let's begin with processed foods. Preservative-containing packaged foods should be avoided. These are some examples of food products that fall within this category: noodles, chips and crisps, cookies, read-to-eat foods, breads, sauces, etc.

Then there are fried foods, which can be even more harmful to the elderly. Fries, burgers, samosas, and other fried foods might aggravate inflammation in your body. Yet, because of their detrimental influence on your heart, we would advise you to avoid these foods not just during the winter but also throughout other seasons.

Avail Athulya Home Care for speedy recovery

Are you struggling to recover from the flu? Worry not and contact Athulya Home Healthcare for quick and efficient home care services.

Athulya also offers home medicine delivery, hence, seniors wouldn’t have to step out of their homes. Similarly, they also offer the doctor-on-call feature, that is known for quick responses. To know more: Athulya Home Healthcare