flu

Flu Season — It Could Be Bad, CDC Says

Posted on 12/3/2012 by | General News | Comments

Bulletin Today | Personal HealthBy Mike Stobbe, Medical Writer, The Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Flu season in the United States is off to its earliest start in nearly a decade — and it could be a bad one. Health officials on Monday said suspected flu cases have jumped in five Southern states, and the primary strain circulating tends to make people sicker than other types. It is particularly hard on the elderly. “It looks like it’s shaping up to be a bad …

Did You Get Your Flu Shot Yet?

Posted on 12/3/2012 by | AARP Blog Author | Comments

Personal HealthHave you gotten your flu shot? ‘Tis the season, it’s not over yet. This week is National Influenza Vaccination Week. You might think that if you haven’t gotten your vaccination by now that there’s no reason. You still should! A vaccination now can still help you against this season’s flu. According to the CDC, flu season usually peaks in February and can last until May. This is still plenty of time to get sick if you haven’t gotten your shot. …

Flu Season is Back!

Posted on 09/7/2012 by | AARP Blog Author | Comments

Personal HealthSeptember! Already! Of course, that means a sort of unofficial start of cold and flu season. The CDC recommends that we get vaccinated against flu starting in September because the flu can start to spread as early as October. What do you need to know to keep healthy? At the risk of sounding horribly mysophobic, let’s talk about basic preventative measures from the CDC. You probably hear these things every year, but these actions should be almost reflexes. This kinda …

Flying This Season? The Germiest Places On A Plane

Posted on 12/22/2011 by | Personal Health and Well-being | Comments

Bulletin Today | Personal HealthGifts aren’t the only thing you can bring back after holiday travel. Your fellow passengers can also gift you with a nice, juicy cold or the flu. That’s because flying increases your risk of getting sick. A 2004 study found that adults are up to 113 times more likely to have a cold after a long flight, when compared to the same risk among of the rest of us on the ground. Why are planes such germ incubators? It’s not …

Fight Flu

Posted on 10/3/2011 by | Health | Comments

Personal HealthJust this past week, I stopped by my local pharmacy and noticed that, in spite of the hot weather, the place was plastered with advertisements – “Get your flu shot here today!”  While the weather seemed incongruent with the signage, flu season is definitely just around the corner. So, what’s new with flu shots this season? First of all, there’s a new high-dose version of the flu shot. The higher dose may mean higher protection from the flu. And second, …

Latinos At Higher Risk for the Flu

Posted on 12/15/2010 by | General News | Comments

Personal HealthLast year, the flu was the 7th leading cause of death of Latino folks over 65. Nearly 17 million Hispanics contracted the flu in 2009. But only 3 in 10 got a flu shot. See a problem here? The good news is that people are catching on, and folks like Lili Estefan, costar of Univision’s El Gordo y la Flaca, are taking action, like teaming up with like the American Lung Association’s Los Rostros de la Gripe campaign. What are …

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