Stay Healthy This Flu Season

Key Takeaways

• Get your annual flu vaccine early to cut your chance of illness, reduce severity, and protect your community.

• Aim for 7–9 hours of sleep, drink plenty of fluids, and eat a balanced diet to support your immune system.

• Wash hands for 20 seconds or use alcohol-based sanitizer, and disinfect frequently touched surfaces regularly.

• Stay home when you’re sick, watch your symptoms, and seek medical care for severe or worsening signs.

• Cover coughs, avoid touching your face, keep light activity when well, and manage stress to support recovery.

Why Getting Vaccinated Matters

Why make the annual flu vaccine a priority? Public health experts agree it’s the most effective way to prevent flu and reduce how serious an infection can be. Each year’s vaccine is designed to protect against the influenza strains expected to circulate, so getting vaccinated soon after it’s available gives you the best protection through the season. Different vaccine options suit different ages and health conditions, helping more people stay protected. Higher vaccination rates lower transmission, shield vulnerable people, and ease pressure on health systems. Clinicians recommend seasonal immunization as a first-line prevention step alongside everyday measures. When vaccination becomes a routine part of seasonal care, communities see fewer cases, milder illness, and fewer complications and hospital stays from flu.

Daily Habits to Boost Immunity

What everyday habits help your immune system during flu season? Keep a regular sleep schedule and aim for 7–9 hours each night to help immune cells recover and work well. Staying hydrated — about eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day for most people — supports mucous membranes and nutrient delivery. A balanced diet with colorful fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains supplies vitamin C, zinc, and antioxidants your body needs. Gentle exercise when you feel well improves circulation without overtaxing you. Managing stress with predictable routines lowers cortisol and helps immunity. And remember: hand washing for at least 20 seconds is one of the easiest, most effective ways to stop germs. If symptoms linger or worsen, contact a healthcare provider for advice.

Effective Hygiene and Home Cleaning Practices

When should routine hygiene become part of daily life? The answer is simple: always. Consistent, easy habits cut transmission risk. At home, practice clear hand hygiene — wash with soap and water for 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based sanitizer — and target high-touch surfaces for regular disinfection. EPA-registered products are proven to kill viruses and bacteria on frequently touched items, and regular cleaning also supports healthier air and fewer respiratory infections. The short checklist below helps put these practices into action:

• Wipe and disinfect doorknobs, phones, keyboards, and desks on a routine schedule.

• Use EPA-registered disinfectants (for example, Clorox or Lysol) and follow the label instructions.

• Wash hands before meals and after being in public settings.

• Keep a steady cleaning routine so surfaces and shared spaces stay safer.

These straightforward steps add a reliable layer of protection during flu season.

Managing Symptoms and When to Seek Care

Which signs mean you should seek medical help? Look for a sudden high fever, a severe cough, trouble breathing, persistent chest pain, confusion, or symptoms that get worse after improving — these suggest you need prompt evaluation. Flu commonly starts with a sudden fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, body aches, and strong fatigue; if these don’t improve or they worsen, contact a clinician for testing and guidance. Over-the-counter flu tests and campus or workplace health services can assist with next steps. At home, rest, stay hydrated, limit activity, and cover coughs and sneezes with tissues while washing hands often to reduce spread. Do not go to school or work while you have a fever or active symptoms; stay home until you’ve been fever-free for at least 24 hours without using fever-reducing medicines.

Staying Healthy at School and Work

Once you spot symptoms or decide to stay home with a fever, focus on steps that reduce spread in shared places like schools and workplaces. Get your annual flu vaccine before peak season, and don’t return to shared settings until you’ve been fever-free for 24 hours without antipyretics. Keep up routine measures: handwashing for 20 seconds or using sanitizer, cover coughs with a tissue or your elbow, and avoid touching your face. Institutions should provide cleaning supplies and improve ventilation to lower both surface and airborne risks.

• Get your annual flu vaccine early in the season.

• Stay home while symptomatic and until you’re fever-free for 24 hours.

• Practice regular handwashing and cough etiquette.

• Keep high-touch surfaces cleaned and support better indoor air flow.