Prescriptions Drugs May Not Help Influenza But The Vaccine May
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Newflash – According to WebMD, while prescriptions drugs are not normally prescribed to help fight off the ‘flu, the annual vaccine may actually keep infected individuals from contracting complications. So Mom got the flu vaccine, it’s a month later and now she has the flu. Why?
That is just it, annually, researchers work to identify the three strongest influenza strains from the year. Then, they mix a cocktail vaccine to fight off those strains in individuals who take the annual shot. So what happens if someone runs into a strain that isn’t in the cocktail? According to John Treanor, MD, an Infectious Disease Specialist at the Rochester Clinic, they will most likely contract influenza.
Why Prescriptions Drugs Still Matter
However, one should't consider the earlier vaccine a waste. While a prescription drug won't offer much help in curing the illness, the vaccine is more likely to keep one from developing complications from the flu. It can even, possibly, stave off a hospital visit because, with the vaccine, the body has developed a partial immunity to the flu strains.
Because influenza hospitalizes as many as 200,000 people a year, it is important that individuals get the annual shot, especially the elderly. Most vaccine supporters will receive the prescribed dose sometime before Thanksgiving Day. However, even after that, the body can reap protection from the vaccine as flu season is not typically over until mid-February.
Tips to Follow When Prescriptions Drugs Can't Help
If prescriptions drugs can't really help with the illness, what can be done to help? Follow these tips, and temporary relief may be at hand, even without prescriptions drugs: blow your nose often, stay rested (stay home from work), gargle (with a bit of salt, or something thicker like honey), drink plenty of hot liquids, take a steamy shower to moisten nasal passages, use a menthol salve under the nose, apply hot or cold packs (whichever is comfortable) to congested sinuses, sleep with an extra pillow under the head, and don’t fly unless necessary (avoid upper respiratory pressure).
