Yes, getting sick is the worst, but what’s more, the fewer flu patients this year, the less strain on the healthcare systems working hard to treat and fight other viruses. So staying healthy is a double win. Here’s what you and your family should know to stay one step ahead of seasonal cold and flu viruses, which typically peak during cold-weather months. In the past 35 years, peak flu season has most commonly occurred between October and May, and has most frequently peaked in February." RELATED: 3 Immunity-Boosting Ingredients RDs Want You to Add to Your Diet Although it’s much less likely, it’s still possible to pick up these viruses indirectly by touching a surface that an infected person previously touched after coughing into their hands. More directly, however, these viruses can be transmitted through close-contact conversation, a kiss, or other contact with someone’s infected saliva or mucus. RELATED: 7 Mistakes That Could Make Your Cold Way Worse Than It Already Is “The hallmarks of the flu are severe body or muscle aches, shortness of breath, cough, fatigue, and an overall, overwhelming sense of feeling terrible,” says Dr. Djavaherian. You may also experience headaches, fever, and chills, in addition to symptoms similar to a cold: coughing/chest discomfort, sneezing, and nasal congestion. According to the CDC, flu symptoms often hit more abruptly and intensely, as opposed to cold symptoms, which can arrive more gradually. While still unpleasant, cold symptoms tend to be somewhat less severe than those of the flu. “Cold symptoms often include a sore throat, runny nose, cough, sinus congestion, watery eyes, fever, mild body aches, and sometimes a skin rash.” Frequent sneezing can also indicate you’ve caught a cold. “Year after year, the CDC has shown how vital the flu shot has been in preventing widespread infections and unnecessary deaths from the flu,” he says. “If you live with other people, especially young children or older adults, make sure they’re vaccinated. This year, the CDC maintains its recommendation that anyone 6 months and older is wise to get a flu vaccine for the 2022–2023 flu season. “The flu shot is more important this year than ever before as flu season collides with the COVID-19 pandemic,” Dr. Teague says. “And it’s not too late to get [the vaccine]—we recommend the flu shot all the way through flu season, which can last October through March.” Beyond getting vaccinated as the primary method of flu prevention, take extra care not to touch your mouth, especially after touching your hands to anything; cover your nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing; thoroughly wash your hands often; and avoid face-to-face contact with people you know have the flu. RELATED: 9 Myths About Immune-Boosting Foods You Should Stop Believing For any parents worried about keeping their kids healthy when they aren’t under their watchful eye—e.g., at school, extracurriculars, or playdates—know how to arm them with flu-prevention tactics. Teach your child the importance of sneezing and coughing into their elbow (rather than hands) and of not sharing drinks, lip balm, flatware, or other things that come in contact with the mouth or nose. Ideally, these healthy habits and precautions should become second nature in order to keep them and their peers safe all day (and all year). “Consider hooking hand sanitizer onto your kids’ backpacks and placing a larger one in the classroom,” Dr. Djavaherian suggests. “You could also ask their teacher for hand-washing breaks before and after lunch time.” The good(ish) news is that continued concerns over the pandemic, particularly given the prevalence of Delta variant cases, have moved schools with in-person classes to enforce safety measures—such as mask-wearing, hand sanitizer, and social distancing—that help prevent the spread of both the COVID-19 and influenza viruses. In other words—and beyond the classroom—the precautions we’ve been taking to slow the spread of COVID-19 will likely have a dampening effect on flu cases—which is a small silver lining. “Particularly if the Delta variant continues to be rampant this flu season, there’s a good chance that the flu will be dampened (as it was last season) as folks continue to wear masks due to the ongoing pandemic, and therefore reduce the chances of propagating the flu,” says Vivek Cherian, MD, an internal medicine physician affiliated with the University of Maryland Medical System. RELATED: You Might Be Making These 7 Hand-Washing Mistakes—Here’s What to Do Instead In the meantime, stay home from school or work to rest and so as not to spread the virus to other people. “Wash your hands often, cough and sneeze into your elbow—not your hands—and consider wearing a mask to reduce the chance of spreading the virus,” Dr. Djavaherian says. If you’re already working remotely due to the pandemic, don’t be afraid to take an actual sick day if you’re truly not feeling well. Working, even from the couch, can hinder you from getting the mental and physical rest your body requires when fighting a seasonal virus.
