Tennova Healthcare Offers Four Smart Steps to Prevent Infections
10/10/2017
Health system encourages area residents to get a flu shot
October 15-21 is International Infection Prevention Week, and Tennova Healthcare is marking the occasion by sharing tips to avoid the flu.
Flu season has arrived in Tennessee, and health officials are bracing for a potentially miserable fall and winter. What are the clues to a bad flu season? The Southern Hemisphere, especially Australia, was hit hard over the past few months with a flu strain that is known for causing severe illness, especially in seniors. And in the U.S., small clusters of the notorious H3N2 flu already are popping up.
As with any illness, it’s important to learn and follow steps that can protect you and your loved ones from contracting the virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists four important steps to reduce your risk of infection:
- Wash your hands consistently throughout the day. Hand washing is one of the most effective and easiest ways to prevent infection.
- Keep your hands away from your face. Microscopic germs find their way into our bodies most often through hand-to-eye, nose or mouth contact. Door knobs and handles, office coffee pots and grocery cart handles can all carry the virus.
- Stay away from sick people. Individuals can still be contagious for 24 hours after a fever and other symptoms cease.
- Get vaccinated. Even when a vaccine is not a perfect match for a flu strain, it still benefits the recipient by decreasing the intensity and duration of the illness and preventing complications.
“Besides getting a flu shot, the best way to prevent the flu—or other illnesses—is the common sense things we learned as children,” said William L. Harvey, M.D., a family medicine physician with Tennova Healthcare. “Wash your hands regularly, keep your hands away from your face, and avoid people who are sick.”
What’s the difference between the common cold and a case of the flu? Influenza symptoms usually appear suddenly and can include:
- Fever over 102°F
- Stuffy nose
- Nausea
- Chills and sweats
- Fatigue
- Muscle aches, especially in your back, arms and legs
- Cough
- Headache
- Loss of appetite
“If you suspect the flu, go to a doctor right away,” Dr. Harvey said. “Unlike colds, the flu can lead to serious complications, including pneumonia. Your doctor will perform a flu test to confirm the diagnosis, and he or she may prescribe antiviral medications or offer advice to lessen the symptoms.
“This year’s flu season has the potential to be more severe than recent ones,” Dr. Harvey added. “People who are at higher risk for flu-related complications—such as young children, adults age 65-plus, and those with lung disease and compromised immune systems—should see their doctor immediately if they suspect they have the flu to ensure they are monitored for complications.”
For more information or to find a doctor, call 1-855-TENNOVA (836-6682).
About Tennova Healthcare
One of the state’s largest health networks, Tennova Healthcare includes 16 hospitals and more than 115 physician clinics. The combined network has approximately 2,600 licensed beds, 2,800 physicians on the combined active medical staffs, and 9,000 employees, with more than 70,000 admissions and 465,000 emergency department visits each year.
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