Four Things You Need to Know About Flu and Asthma

If you are asthmatic and you catch flu, you are likely to get very sick. Asthma in itself does not create a high risk for flu, but it might make flu worse when you get it. People who have asthma already have sensitive airways; therefore a respiratory virus such as flu will trigger severe coughing, shortness of breath and wheezing. Here are tips to help you safeguard your health.

1. Ensure your asthma is well controlled

A right way of protecting yourself during the cold season is to ensure your asthma is under control. Respiratory viruses might trigger asthma attacks if it is not appropriately managed. If you and your doctor have asthma in control, the impact of flu infection or cold will not be severe.

2. Follow flu prevention tips

Over and above everything, it is better to prevent a disease than treat it after it attacks you. You can easily protect yourself from flu and other viruses by using soap to wash your hands often, avoiding sick people and not using your hands to touch your face when you are in the outdoors. Also, disinfect commonly touched surfaces around your home and workplace, especially when someone on the premise has been unwell.

3. Get a flu shot

Everybody who is suffering from asthma ought to get a flu shot before the cold season starts. The flu season might last from November to March. A flu shot is essential in reducing your risk of catching flu by approximately 60 percent. It is an important measure, mainly because flu triggers asthma attacks.

4. Know the enemy

It is essential to understand the symptoms and ways of contracting flu. When flu sets in, you are likely to experience body aches, nasal congestion. A dry cough, fever, sore throat and body aches. Influenza is spread from one individual to another in air droplets sprayed by an infected person when they cough or sneeze. An infected person may start spreading flu before the symptoms even show.