(WXYZ) — While flu season begins in the fall and continues through the winter, peak flu season comes between December and February, and can continue on into March, according to the CDC. Sometimes, the CDC says it can last until May.
For those people ages 65 and older, getting the flu can be more serious and you should be paying extra attention to preventing the flu, looking for symptoms and also treating it if you the flu.
Dr. Brian Fedoronko is the medical director at Priority Health, and he has some tips for avoiding the flu and treating it if you come down with it.
The first tip is to get the vaccine. According to the CDC, there are high-dose shots for older people, specifically licensed for those 65 and older. It contains four times the antigen and is supposed to give older people a better immune response.
Fedoronko also advises people to wash your hands. It may seem obvious, but scrub them for at least 20 seconds. He also said it's not a bad idea to carry a small bottle of hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol.
Staying active and eating healthy will help avoid the flu, as will getting a full night's sleep to boost your immune system.
Finally, if you aren't sure you should seek care, you can try a virtual visit which can be less expensive than an ER visit while connecting you with a health proessional wherever you are.
