Stop flu from infecting you!

What you need to know

Legal&Tax’s medical experts are here to inform you about the key facts of flu and how to help prevent you and your family from getting sick this season.

Flu is a shortened form for influenza which is a kind of infection that might include getting fevers, blocked or runny noses, sore throats and body pain and headaches. At certain times of the year, usually the winter months, there is often an increase in the number of people getting sick. We call this time period ‘flu season’.

In South Africa flu season always runs from May to August. This means our 2019 flu season has      begun and it is more important than ever to make sure you protect yourself.

As the old saying goes: ‘prevention is better than cure’. Therefore the most important action that you can take is to try and make sure you do not get flu at all.

Here are some tips of how to prevent getting flu:

1. Hygiene Flu is passed between people though germs in the air. Therefore it is very important to try and avoid getting these germs into your body.
2. Healthy Eating Focus on healthy living and healthy eating. Eat food that is nutritious and full of vitamins as these will make your body strong.   Nature’s very best medicine is definitely fresh vegetables and fruit, so pack these into your daily meal plans. Did you know that the different colours of fruit and vegetables indicate the different kinds of vitamins inside them? Therefore try and make sure you eat a rainbow of these foods to get a full range of boosters against bad health.  
3. Exercise  Add in some exercise to your daily routine. It might be cold outside but try and keep your body moving. This allows your blood cells that fight illnesses to circulate (move around) your body. It also helps you to sleep well at night and makes you feel less stressed.

Flu Vaccinations

One of the best ways to prevent getting flu is to have a flu vaccine. This is a special kind of medicine that helps your body be strong enough to fight off the flu.

You might have heard of some negative ideas around vaccines. In South Africa, we have a medical organisation called the National Institute for Communicable Disease. They deal with sicknesses that are contagious (can be passed on from one people to another). The NICD recommends that having the flu vaccine “remains the most effective measure to prevent illness and possibly deadly outcomes.”

Everyone (with a few specialised medical exceptions) over the age of six months should get the flu vaccine.

If you are already sick though, you must wait until you are better before getting it to prevent getting sick again.

The flu vaccine is available at various places such as your local doctors, pharmacy, hospital or clinics. It is usually covered by medical aids. Even if you do not have a medical aid, the cost of getting sick is much more than that of a vaccine.

Consider signing up for Legal&Tax’s HealthCare Plan, if you do unfortunately get ill and land up in hospital. 

So, if you do get the flu…

The most severe symptoms of flu should not last more than four or five days. However, if you have a cough, it may go on for much longer than that.

Flu is usually quite mild, but if not properly treated, it can even lead to death.

As such, while rest, drinking lots of fluids, and certain over the counter medicines might help you recover in very mild cases, you must definitely seek medical help if your symptoms seem severe and/or do not seem to get any better very quickly.

Another great reason to sign up for Legal&Tax Service’s HealthCare Plan is that it will offer you telephonic access to a nurse 24/7 who can offer you specialised health advice in this kind of situation.

Legal&Tax Services is your companion of comfort during the winter months. We make sure you stay informed, stay healthy and have access to affordable medical cover with our hospital cash back plan.