Vaccine your best shot against influenza

Generally speaking, I’m a pretty healthy person.

I get plenty of rest, eat a well-balanced, nutrient-dense diet and get plenty of vigorous exercise. No matter what I do, or which preventive courses of action I take, though, there comes a point as autumn transitions to winter when I find myself catching “something.”

While most of the time my symptoms would likely be classified as a common cold, this year I had the flu. Or, more accurately, one of this year’s local strands of the influenza virus.

Now feel free to call me uninformed, but I don’t think I’m alone in the misconception that “the flu” presents itself in the form of a stomach virus. In actuality, influenza presents more like a super-powered, mutant-strength cold. You know, just in case a regular cold wasn’t annoying enough.

“Influenza is caused by influenza viruses that attack the respiratory system — nose, throat, and lungs. Influenza viruses do not typically target the gastrointestinal system,” explains Dr. Judy MacDonald, medical health officer for the Calgary zone of Alberta Health Services.

“Symptoms of influenza typically include the sudden onset of fever and/or chills, headache and cough, accompanied by muscle aches lasting three to five days, with extreme tiredness that can last two to three weeks or longer.”

So what could I have done to avoid this miserable life-halting virus? Well, according to MacDonald, aside from getting the annual flu shot offered free of charge to all Calgarians, not much.

While a healthy lifestyle is great and handwashing is impor- tant, neither are an alternative to an immunization. Influenza can be spread through the air and no amount of handwashing can protect us from airborne viruses.

Vaccines are a controversial topic these days, but according to MacDonald they are both entirely safe and the only way to protect ourselves from what can become a very serious illness.

“Influenza can be a severe, and even fatal, illness,” she says. “Individuals should always monitor their symptoms and anyone who is experiencing increasing shortness of breath, worsening fever, or other influenza symptoms shouldn’t hesitate to seek medical assistance.”