Flu vaccination can save severe asthma attack!

Flu (Influenza) is a viral infection which is self-diagnosable & self-treatable usually. It is mild & does not require medical care or antiviral or antibiotics. People with age more than 65 or young children, pregnant females & people living with medical conditions like asthma, COPD, heart diseases, chronic kidney diseases, malignancies, on immunosuppressive medications etc. have high risk of having complications related to flu. It can lead to hospitalization or even death.

The warning signs of serious complications are:

·      Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

·      Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen

·      Sudden dizziness

·      Confusion

·      Severe or persistent vomiting

·      Flu-like symptoms that improve but then return with fever and worse cough

The annual seasonal flu vaccine (“Flu shot”) is the best way to reduce your risk of getting flu. Flu vaccines cause antibodies to develop in the body about two weeks after vaccination, which provides immunity against flu virus. The seasonal flu vaccine protects against the influenza viruses that research indicates will be most common during the upcoming season. 

Newer flu vaccines (called “tetravalent” vaccines) are made to protect against four subtypes of flu viruses: 

·      A/Michigan/45/2015 (H1N1)pdm09–like virus;

·      A/Hong Kong/4801/2014 (H3N2)–like virus

·      B/Brisbane/60/2008–like virus, which is from the Victoria lineage of B viruses

·      B/Phuket/3073/2013–like virus

So, ask your doctor for a “flu shot” and protect yourself and your loved from flu & it’s serious complications.