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BOG-Official-2023

flu shot Atlanta

Tips to Avoid Sickness this Holiday Season

For all the reasons that we love the holidays, there is one unfortunate side effect of this most festive time of year: the increased risk of getting sick. Between all the shopping, traveling, time spent with kids, get-togethers, and general craziness that is part of the holiday season, it’s no wonder so many people fall victim to seasonal illnesses like colds and the flu this time of year. Although coming down with something may seem inevitable during your travels, the healthcare providers at Abraham Family Medicine are happy to provide a few tips for how to reduce your risk of illness and stay healthy this holiday season.

Wash Your Hands Regularly

avoid-sicknessThis is good advice year round, but especially during the holidays. Washing your hands with soap and water can be a great way to prevent the spread of germs to yourself and others. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends scrubbing your hands in warm water for 20 seconds each time you wash to get the best germ-killing results. If you’re on the go and unable to wash your hands, we recommend keeping alcohol-based hand sanitizers with you.

Get a Flu Shot

Receiving an annual flu shot is the best way to protect yourself against the flu virus. Early fall, before flu activity starts to really rise, is the best time to get a flu shot. Still, it generally takes about two weeks to build up immunity against the flu after the shot is given, so December is not too late to protect yourself for the upcoming holiday season and beyond.

Practice Healthy Habits

Little changes to your diet and daily routine can go a long way towards keeping you in good health. This may include getting regular exercise, eating more healthfully, and making sure to get enough sleep (between 7-9 hours nightly). Taking healthy supplements like vitamin C, vitamin E, and Zinc can also be very beneficial.

Additional Tips:

Be extra in crowded places like shopping malls, gyms, and schools.
Keep your hands away from your mouth, nose, and eyes as much as possible.
Dress appropriately and bundle up when necessary

There’s nothing more annoying than being sick over the holidays. Hopefully these tips will help keep you happy, healthy, and free to enjoy the holiday season with the ones you love. It also helps to schedule a pre-holiday check-up at Abraham Family Medicine to ensure that you are in the best-possible physical health leading into the holiday season. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please contact Abraham Family Medicine today. Our office is located in Snellville, not far from Grayson.

November is the Perfect Time for a Flu Shot at Abraham Family Medicine

November is here, which means flu season is rapidly approaching. It is once again the time of year to protect yourself and your family from the debilitating illness known as the flu. Coming down with a case of the flu can be very challenging, or in some cases even potentially dangerous. This is especially true for children and the elderly who have weaker immune systems and may be more vulnerable to the virus. Since flu germs travel freely through the air, it may be impossible to completely avoid contact with them. But there are proven and effective measures to protect yourself and your loved ones from feeling the impact of flu season, most notably receiving an annual flu vaccination.

November is the Perfect Time for a Flu Shot at Abraham Family Medicine

Keeping up with your immunizations is the safest way to prevent yourself from dealing with the flu. In addition to protecting the patient from the flu, flu shots contribute to stopping the spread of the virus by cutting down on the number of contagious people in any given area. By reducing the number of people affected by the flu, flu vaccinations also drastically reduce the number of visits to the doctor and hospital stays required during flu season. Earlier this year, a study published in the journal Pediatrics was the first of its kind to show that flu vaccinations also significantly reduced a child’s risk of dying from influenza. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), between 71% – 85% of seasonal flu-related deaths occur in people 65 years and older, making immunizations that much more important for elderly patients.

The CDC reported that just 45% of American adults received a flu shot last year. This low number is partially due to the perception that if you don’t get immunized by the end of October, then it’s too late. However, the healthcare providers at Abraham Family Medicine believe that November is a great time to get a flu shot to prepare for the upcoming flu season.

Due to the constantly changing nature of the virus and its many strands, it’s not possible to predict what the upcoming flu season will bring. That’s why every flu season offers a new challenge for public health experts. The timing, severity, and length of flu season vary considerably from year to year. However, one thing that stays consistent from one year to another is the knowledge that the fall season is the perfect time to get a flu shot. Because the flu vaccine takes about two weeks to fully enter the patient’s system after receiving the shot, it’s important to stay ahead of the virus. The peak of flu activity typically occurs between December and March, so getting vaccinated in November should leave plenty of time to fully protect yourself from the flu before the season really takes hold.

The flu can be a frightening proposition, but thanks to immunizations, it is easier than ever to help ensure the health and safety of yourself and your family all throughout flu season. For more information or to schedule an appointment for your flu immunization, please contact Abraham Family Medicine today. Our office is located in Snellville, not far from Grayson.

Health Tips for the Upcoming Flu Season

Flu season is approaching. That means it’s once again time to arm yourself and your loved ones with the knowledge and savvy necessary to avoid the virus this year. The flu can be a debilitating, or even potentially dangerous illness, especially for people with weaker immune systems like children and the elderly.

You may not have the ability to completely avoid contact with flu germs, but there are proven and effective measures to protect yourself and others around you from feeling their full impact. It’s simply a matter of promoting healthy behaviors and acting quickly if symptoms should strike. We’ve provided some tips below to help keep you and the people in your life healthy all through the upcoming flu season:

health-tips-for-the-upcoming-flu-seasonFlu Immunization

A simple way to try to prevent the flu virus is keeping up with your immunizations. A flu shot not only helps protect you from the flu, but contributes to stopping the spread of the virus. Flu vaccinations drastically reduce the number of flu illnesses as well as the doctors’ and hospital visits they require. At Abraham Family Medicine, we recommend for any person above age 6 to receive a flu shot before the end of October.

Don’t Hesitate if you Feel Symptoms

Sometimes it can be difficult to tell the difference between the flu and more common general illnesses like a common cold. We recommend seeking medical advice quickly if you begin to show flu symptoms. These may include fever, cough, sore throat, nasal congestion, body aches, headache and fatigue. Vomiting and diarrhea are also common. If you come down with the flu, antiviral drugs can be used to treat the illness. Antiviral drugs can limit the time you are sick and help stifle the effects of the virus. It’s especially important for people more vulnerable to the flu (like people 65 and older) to start taking antiviral drugs before their symptoms become severe to avoid hospitalization or more serious complications.

Prevent the Spread of Germs

Flu germs are spread through an infected person sneezing and coughing. The virus can be passed from person to person this way and it can also be left on a surface and transmitted when the next person comes in to contact with it. The first step in limiting the spread of germs is consistent and thorough hand washing. Avoid unnecessary touching of your eyes, nose and mouth. Try to cough and sneeze in to a tissue if available, and dispose of the tissue immediately. Lastly, we recommend cleaning surfaces at home like countertops and door knobs regularly to prevent potential flu germs from accumulating.

The flu can be very serious, so we strongly recommend following these tips to help ensure your health and safety during the long flu season. Contact Abraham Family Medicine today for more information on the flu or if you would like to schedule an appointment for your flu immunization. With over 50 combined years of experience, Dr. Ben Abraham and his highly trained medical team have the expertise and answers you can trust.

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