Just one (flu) shot will protect you this winter

Runny nose? Sore throat? Aching body? It’s cold and flu season again! But cold and flu season doesn’t have to bring with it these unpleasant symptoms or cause you to spend money on medicines, take time off work or lie in bed for days (as pleasant as that might sound now, while you’re well). When it comes to cold and flu, the old saying ‘prevention is better than cure’ is definitely true.

And with almost 45,000 flu infections resulting in more than 2,500 deaths in Australia each year, there are plenty of good reasons to try not to catch these viruses. So prepare yourself with a ‘flu shot’ and healthy habits this winter to beat colds and flu.

Cold or flu?

Although the terms cold and flu are often used interchangeably, they are different types of infection, caused by different types of viruses. The common cold is usually caused by rhinovirus, but there are more than 200 different viruses that can cause a cold. They all infect the upper respiratory tract (nose and throat)and cause minor symptoms for about a week.

The flu, a more serious infection than the common cold, is caused by different strains of the influenza virus, which are constantly mutating and taking on different characteristics. Every year there are new strains of the flu. People who have been infected with one strain of influenza can be reinfected with another strain, even though they have developed antibodies to the first flu strain.

Same but different

While the common cold and influenza are different bugs, they have a number of similarities. Importantly, they are both viruses, meaning that they cannot be treated with antibiotics (which work against bacteria, not viruses).

They both cause similar symptoms, like runny nose and sore throat. But colds usually start gradually with a general feeling of tiredness, whereas the flu begins rapidly; you’ll notice the nose and throat symptoms straight away. If you have a fever, you’ve probably got the flu, not a cold.

Blowin’ in the wind

Both colds and flus are highly contagious. They spread into the air and onto surfaces via an infected person’s mucus, for example when they sneeze, cough or even talk. Particles of influenza and rhinovirus are literally ‘blowing in the wind’, and you’re almost certain to find them hanging ‘down by the schoolyard’ (and just about everywhere else) on hands, doorknobs and bench tops.

To completely avoid the possibility of getting cold or flu, you’d need to avoid exposure to virus particles in the air – which would mean locking yourself in isolation for the entire winter. Probably better to spend a couple of weeks down with the flu than miss the whole season.

But without going to the extremes of an isolation ward, there are other steps you can take to limit your exposure. Hands collect germs like influenza, so maintaining good hand hygiene is important. Also make sure you clean surfaces like benches and doorknobs which might harbour germs.

And get outside for some fresh air. Heated indoor environments are a great haven for viruses and also dry out the mucus of the nose, which usually prevents viruses infecting the mucus membranes. Even when you’re sick, go outside for fresh air and some mild walking exercise.

You’ll also be less likely to catch a cold or flu if your immune system is healthy.

One shot wonder

The single best way you can boost your immune system against the flu is by getting vaccinated for influenza, commonly known as having a flu shot. The flu shot is a vaccine that contains inactivated particles of the influenza virus strains that most commonly caused influenza infection in the previous year.

Influenza strains can mutate, so a flu shot is not a 100% guarantee that you’ll avoid the flu, but it’s a pretty good gamble; you’ll be 50–80% less likely to catch the flu if you have the shot every year. Annual vaccination is important, because a flu shot only protects you from a few strains of the virus, and the most recent strains (included in the newest vaccine) are the most likely to cause infection. Getting the flu shot every year is especially important for elderly people, children < 5 years old, pregnant women, and people with a suppressed immune system.

A shot of healthy living

Unfortunately, there is no vaccine to prevent the common cold. With over 200 viruses capable of causing the infection, it’s very difficult to design a vaccine that prevents all of them. But there are other steps you can take improve your immune system and give it the best possible chance of fighting off a cold.

Like the rest of your body, your immune system will benefit from healthy living habits. Eat a healthy diet, perform regular exercise and make sure you get enough time to rest and de-stress. Oh, and if someone else hasn’t already told you to do it for another good reason like reducing your risk of cancer, quitting smoking will also reduce your chance of catching cold and flu.

A fact of life

No matter how careful you are, at some stage you’re going to get a cold or flu. But when you do, it doesn’t have doesn’t have to be end of the world. You know how bad you feel when you’re sick? Well, have a thought for other people: try not to pass your cold on and stay away from work or school until you’ve fully recovered. Make sure you drink plenty of water and ignore the myth about not drinking milk – dairy products are fine when you’re sick! While antibiotics are no use for the cold or flu, there are medications that can help to control their symptoms. Fever, headaches and a sore throat can all be treated with painkillers such as paracetamol or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), but be aware that aspirin shouldn’t be given to teenagers or children. Stuffy and runny noses can be treated with nasal decongestants, and cough suppressants are available over the counter. Armed with all of these, you can deal with the worst that your cold or flu will throw at you.

Fight the ‘inevitable’

Colds and flus are a common, but not inevitable, feature of winter. A healthy body and immune system provide you the best protection against colds, so make sure winter is a time when you eat well, exercise regularly and get plenty of rest. To prevent influenza infection, take a flu shot to boost your immune system. And don’t forget to enjoy a healthy winter.

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