4 Ways the Flu Attacks Your Body and Preventive Tips
The flu, or better known by its name of influenza, is a kind of viral infection that targets and infects the respiratory system. Influenza is a seasonal illness that accompanies the colorful leaves, cozy sweaters, and the beautiful things that come at fall.
A large number of people are infected yearly with the flu, and a high percentage of those affected get admitted to hospitals for treatment. The campaign to provide awareness about influenza is growing, how it infects you, and what you can do about it.
The tips provided here will expose you to vital information about the flu, how it attacks your body, and what you can do to keep it away from you.
How Infectious Is the Flu?
When compared with other transmissible viruses like measles, influenza has a relatively low transmission rate. While an individual infected with measles, for instance, will likely infect twelve to eighteen different persons, someone with flu will likely infect two to three other individuals.
With a low infectious rate, the question that comes to mind is how the flu spreads so fast. But because the number of people catching influenza is high, they come in contact with a lot more others, and thus the chances of spreading the virus increases.
What you can do about this is to be careful when the disease is in the air, and ensure you reduce your rate of close contact with individuals, especially those infected already. This way, you reduce your chances of being infected.
How You Get Infected
You can pick up flu from the air when an infected person coughs, and the wind carries the droplets of the cough into your nostrils. It’s also possible to pick up particles of the infectious disease from tabletops and surfaces.
Once the virus finds its way into your nose, it’ll set itself up in your nasal passageway. From there, the virus begins to multiply itself and will go ahead to affect other nearby cells. The virus keeps replicating itself and spreading until all the cells in your body are infected.
Maintaining personal hygiene is vital. Keep safe distances from individuals always while having a conversation. Wash or sanitize your hands frequently to keep them free of germs. Reduce the frequency with which you put your fingers into your nostrils.
How Does The Flu Affect Your Body System
If you catch the flu, it doesn’t show up immediately in your body. It takes some days to show up, and you’ll still be able to transmit the virus to others. When it shows up, your immune system immediately goes into action to wade off the invader.
Your immune system releases cytokines, which are the body chemicals responsible for fighting off such invasions. It’s the efforts of the cytokines at fighting off the virus invasion that’s responsible for all the symptoms associated with the virus.
Vaccines will aid your immune system at times like this to wade off the virus. Regular vaccination is the way to go for taking care of such situations. It’s advised you take protection at least once a year, as they have sufficient protein content to help your immune system.
Who’s at Risk of Catching The Flu?
Anyone is at risk of catching influenza, but some people are more exposed to the risk of contracting the flu than others are. These factors increase people’s risk factors.
- Age
Children and the elderly are more exposed than the rest of the community. These groups include children who are younger than one year and older individuals above 65 years of age.
- Living and Working Conditions
Individuals who reside or work at places with high population density have higher exposure risks. People living in nursing homes and military barracks are instances of high population density areas.
- Weak Immune Systems
Many factors, which include smoking, high alcohol intake, cancer treatments, among other factors, can generally weaken your immune system. Weaker immune systems expose you to a higher risk of contracting the flu.
- Pregnancy
Just like many other health conditions, pregnant women stand higher chances of contracting influenza, especially those in their second and third trimesters. Women
- Obese Individuals
People that are obsessed are at higher risk of contracting influenza than people of healthy weight.
Conclusion
Influenza virus, once it gains access to your system, affects your typical body performance, as much as affecting your muscles. Consider healthy food supplements to help boost your immune system and protect your muscles and your body against the effects of the flu.
Always consult health professionals whenever your health condition gets critical.