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Do You Falls into Any of These Groups? Then You Need a Flu Shot ASAP!

At some point in your life, you must have come down with the flu. If you haven’t, you must be one very, very lucky individual, although that isn’t likely. All the same, you must admit that this medical condition isn’t fun at all. But is there any disease that is?

For this particular one though, the fever suddenly hits you, then chills, aches, and a sore throat follow. With these symptoms, you may be inclined to stay hidden under your duvet for ages. Fortunately for most people, two weeks are more than enough to battle the disease and come out victorious.

You may be inclined to stay in bed forever when you’re sick

That Unlucky Cohort

Notice how we said most people? Well, there’s that group that isn’t that lucky. As the CDC reports, the flu in some individuals, especially those in high-risk populations, may develop into a particularly serious condition such as bronchitis or pneumonia.

Remember when Oprah Winfrey suffered from pneumonia? She admitted to the disease being no joke, urging everyone to take their flu shots. She has even planned a tour around the United States to create awareness on the disease.

Being sick is no laughing matter

As you may already know, anything that prompts such a reaction from Oprah must be quite serious. Before she embarks on her tour though, let’s delve into how you can identify a high-risk individual. After identification, the next step should be having them take their shots without question.

First off, anyone with a chronic disease falls squarely into this group. Chronic diseases include coronary diseases, diabetes, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and disorders of the liver, kidney, or blood.

Flu-related complications likely to affect them include the two previously mentioned ones, in addition to ear infections and sinusitis.

Additionally, people with a suppressed immune system are also not expected to survive the flu season unscathed. Diseases that weaken your immunity include leukemia and HIV/AIDS, and if you’re on medication such as chemo, you’re also very much at risk.

Deteriorating Immunity

As we age, our body’s immune system tends to deteriorate. As such, the CDC classifies individuals aged 50 and above to be a high-risk group for flu-related complications. Dr. Donna Casey, a medic based in Dallas, avers this, saying that the flu opens up the floodgates for bacterial infections in these individuals.

Once you hit 50, your immunity becomes a shadow of its former self

While adults aged over fifty have a deteriorating immune system, children aged below five have one that isn’t quite fully developed yet. As such, fighting serious infections becomes a daunting task, especially in children that are yet to hit the 2-year-old mark. According to the CDC, the flu in these kids may lead to encephalopathy, a serious brain infection.

The gestation period for any living thing is usually a trying time, and the case isn’t any different in human beings. The pregnant mom and her developing embryo could be as healthy as they can ever be, but pregnancy puts a strain on the mom’s immune system.

Pregnancy can be a trying time

They are, therefore, at a higher risk of contracting the flu, and if they do, treating and managing it may not be a piece of cake. The country’s Pregnancy Association states that the complications that follow may lead to low birth weight, premature birth, or even a miscarriage.

 

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