influenza

When the Flu Strikes, Laughter Is the Best Medicine

Posted on 01/25/2013 by | Fat to Fit | Comments

Personal HealthWhen you’re flat on your back with the flu, the ceiling becomes a blank slate on which you can write your thoughts.  Still bedbound on day five of what experts say is usually a three-day event (I would love to personally update these “experts”), I have moved on from feeling sorry for myself to thinking about the advantages of this dramatic interruption in my life’s reel. I found 10 benefits to offset the inconvenient and uncomfortable minuses: 1. You save …

Immunizations: A Family Affair

Posted on 01/16/2013 by | Aging, Home & Family Expert | Comments

Caregiving | Home & Family | Personal Health | Relationships | Your LifeA visit to the emergency room with my Mom yesterday reminded me that flu season is paying an early, and unwelcome, visit this year. Our hospital, along with so many across the nation, was crowded with those suffering from the flu. We wore masks, offered as we registered in the ER, the entire time we were there … just in case. Last year saw fewer cases of influenza reported than ever before recorded — primarily due to a higher number …

Flu Season: It’s Here and It’s Bad

Posted on 01/9/2013 by | Personal Health and Well-being | Comments

Bulletin Today | Personal HealthFlu season has officially reached epidemic proportions across the country with 47 states reporting widespread flu activity and emergency rooms contending with a flood of patients. Adding to the misery is that this year’s flu strain is a much more aggressive type than last year’s. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo declared a public health emergency this past weekend, giving pharmacists permission to administer flu vaccinations to more people. The mayor of Boston also declared a public health emergency last week …

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 …

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