Preparing for the Flu Season

How to prepare for the flu season

With autumn upon us it means winter is fast approaching - shorter days, cold weather and unfortunately, the flu season.

The flu viruses that circulate can change from year to year. Completely new flu viruses can emerge and cause global pandemics – like the influenza (H1N1) pandemic of 2009.

The official flu season runs from May to September, and although anyone can get the flu, it doesn’t mean you will definitely get it every year. People who are fit and well are better able to ward off the flu. If you eat a balanced diet, exercise regularly and get enough sleep, your body will be in good shape to fight back against any invading flu virus.

So, how do you get the flu? The flu is a viral infection passed from person to person via infected droplets commonly spread by sneezing and coughing.

Symptoms of flu include:

a fever greater or equal to 38°C
at least one respiratory symptom, like a cough, sore throat, or runny nose
rapid onset with at least one systemic symptom, like a headache, aches and pains, sweats or chills, or fatigue.

Flu symptoms are severe and are not to be confused with cold symptoms – with the flu you often don’t have the energy to get out of bed.

Some people are more at risk of getting the flu than others. The Ministry of Health has identified that the following groups are at higher risk of developing complications from flu viruses and are therefore eligible for a free flu vaccine. They include those who:

are pregnant
are significantly overweight
use asthma preventers
have diabetes
are aged 65 years or over
have heart disease
have kidney problems
have a serious medical condition, like cancer.

If you are unlucky enough to get the flu, you should stop the spread of flu germs by:

staying in bed and not going to work or school
covering your mouth when you cough and sneeze
regularly washing your hands and drying them thoroughly
avoid crowded settings.

This may all sound like doom and gloom, but flu prevention is better than cure. Help prevent flu by:

washing your hands thoroughly and often and avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth
eating a balanced diet with fruit and vegetables rich in vitamin C
getting enough sleep
reducing your stress levels
getting regular exercise.

And remember that flu can cause serious complications, like pneumonia, which can be deadly. So look after your health – it is your most cherished possession.

Swallowing difficulties (dysphagia)

Causes of swallowing difficulties

Swallowing difficulties can happen at any age. There are a wide range of causes for them, including:

some medicines, such as antipsychotics
heartburn and acid reflux
cancer, such as mouth or throat cancers
nervous system or brain disorders
muscle disorders
blockages or structural issues with your mouth, throat or oesophagus.

Symptoms of swallowing difficulties

Symptoms of swallowing difficulties may include:

coughing or choking when eating or drinking
bringing food back up, may be through your nose
the feeling that food is stuck in your throat
having issues chewing your food
problems with dribbling.

Swallowing difficulties can cause weight loss, dehydration and chest infections.

Diagnosing swallowing difficulties

Let your healthcare provider know if you have swallowing difficulties. They will ask you about your symptoms and check if any other health conditions you have may be the cause.

Your healthcare provider may refer you to a specialist for tests. These may include a:

gastroscopy—a camera is passed down through your mouth to look at your throat and stomach
swallowing study—your throat and stomach are x-rayed as you swallow small amounts of food.

Treating swallowing difficulties

How your swallowing difficulties are treated depends on the cause and how severe it is. Treatments may include:

medicines to treat acid reflux
swallowing therapy with a speech and language therapist
making changes to what you eat and drink, such as softer foods and using thickener in drinks
using special spoons, plates and cups
surgery to widen your oesophagus.
using special medication lubricants eg Gloup to help make it easier to swallow tablets etc. For more information click here.

Self care for swallowing difficulties

As well as seeing your healthcare provider, the following tips may help you to get food or liquids into your stomach.

Sit upright in a chair—at a table is best.
Have regular small meals instead of the main large meals.
Eat or drink small mouthfuls at a time.
If your voice is gurgly when you eat or drink, give a small cough to make sure your airway is clear.
Wet food will be easier to swallow as dry food can catch in your throat.
If your food has 2 consistencies, such as fruit in juice and cereal in milk, try to mix it into 1 consistency, or eat the solid and liquid portions separately.
Concentrate on eating and avoid talking.
Hot, ice-cold or fizzy liquids are easier to swallow than room temperature liquids.
If you are told to have thickened liquids, avoid ice-cream and jelly as they thin before swallowing.
Drink from the top half of you cup to avoid tipping your head back.

Have a look at our range of Gloup medication lubricants here which can help with difficulties swallowing tablets...

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