How can I prevent the flu?

The best way to protect your family is to get a flu vaccine. The flu vaccine gives you and your family about an 80 percent or better chance of preventing the flu.

There are two forms of flu vaccine: a shot and a nasal spray (a mist that is sprayed into the nose). Talk to your pediatrician about which vaccine is right for you and your family.

Other ways to prevent flu include practicing good hand hygiene to stop the spread of germs.

Wash your hands often with soap and warm water.Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Disinfect high-traffic surfaces (door handles, tabletops).

Influenza can be prevented by getting the influenza vaccine, or flu shot, every year. Because influenza is seasonal, so is the flu shot. In other words, last season's flu shot may not protect against this season's influenza.

However, the flu shot is only a start to preventing influenza. Good sleep quality, proper nutrition, covering your cough and hand-washing are necessary in protecting yourself against influenza.

Top 10 "No flu for you" tips:

10. Barrier buffer before boarding. Think germ force field before entering a confined space; use a Q-Tip to apply some petroleum jelly inside your nose to serve as a barrier.
9. Natural non-drying sanitizer. Your concerned about the toilet door but even your pockets are germ traps -- all-natural hand sanitizer kills 99.9% of germs.
8. Snot nosed kids? Boiron offers Oscillococcinum for flu, Coryzalia for Colds, and Stodal for coughs.
7. Keep mucous membranes moist. Drink lots of fluids, change your contacts with clean hands, and for god sake, stop picking your nose and rubbing your eyes!
6. Sleep, silly! Stress and sleeplessness are proven to contribute to an unhealthy immune system.
5. Be pro-active with probiotics. Antibiotics aren't effective against viruses. A happy gut means a healthy immune system.
4. Sleeve sneeze please! You may have heard this one as often as 'wash your hands'... So why aren't you!? (And stop spitting too!... We all want the news, not the weather!)
3. Wash your hands but shower your nose. Irrigate your nasal system. It'll kick out viruses and bacteria harboring in your honker before they get a chance to grab hold and infect you.
2. "Ant-D up"! If you live north of 32 degree's latitude, you're probably low or deficient in vitamin D and more susceptible to colds and flu. Supplement your health with 1,000 international units (IUs) of Quali-DTM!
1. Prevention is #1: An ounce is worth a pound of cure.

Here are some steps to take to minimize the likelihood of catching the flu:

Surface transmission of the flu and other viruses is more common than by sneezing or coughing. Many of the most concerning viruses can be transferred via public surfaces or people touching one another—such as handshaking, door handles, gas pumps, sharing pens, etc. Therefore, avoid touching your face when you are in public places and immediately afterward until you have a chance to wash your hands well. If you use a public bathroom, use a paper towel to turn off the water knobs and then to open the door to leave the bathroom to keep your hands clean.

Keep preschool age children at home and away from childcare settings with large numbers of other children with runny noses. The last place you want to be with a sick child is an emergency room or a doctor's office, because these places will certainly increase your chances of getting the flu or some other infectious disease.

If you do get the flu, stay home. Sip water all day, as opposed to guzzling all at once. Eat as little as possible; if hungry, stick to light food, mostly juicy fruits and salad. Once you are ill, it is important not to overwork your body digesting heavy meals. Anorexia of infection (loss of appetite) is one way the body has of activating a more powerful immune response.

Vaccination: Experts suggest that one of the best ways to prevent the flu is to get a flu vaccination each year. New vaccines are created annually to predict the type of influenza that will be most prevalent each year. This is because the genetic makeup of the influenza virus is constantly changing, leading to new types (or strains) of the virus.

Healthcare professionals recommend that some individuals should not be vaccinated. These include people who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs, people who have had a severe reaction to an influenza vaccination in the past, people who developed Guillain-Barre syndrome (a disorder where the immune system attacks the nervous system) within six weeks of getting an influenza vaccine previously, children less than six months of age (the influenza vaccine is not approved for use in this age group), and people who have a moderate or severe illness with a fever (it is recommended that these patients wait until symptoms lessen to get vaccinated).

Cleanliness: Clean the hands thoroughly and often to prevent transmission of the influenza virus. Carrying a bottle of alcohol-based hand rub containing at least 60% alcohol for times when soap and water are not available is a good idea. These gels kill most germs, and are safe for older children to use themselves. Many healthcare professionals recommend not over-using antibacterial soaps and cleansers. The skin contains natural bacteria that can be harmed with repeated use of soaps. Keeping the kitchen and bathroom countertops clean, especially when someone in the family has the flu, is important. Wash children's toys before and after play when a cold is present in the house. Sneezing and coughing into tissues keeps the viruses from spreading. Used tissues should be discarded right away. A face mask can be worn to protect the individual from the influenza virus and to keep an infected person from transmitting the virus.

Avoiding prolonged contact: Healthcare professionals recommend to avoid close, prolonged contact with anyone who has the flu.

You should read product labels, and discuss all therapies with a qualified healthcare provider. Natural Standard information does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.