X
theAsianparent Logo
theAsianparent Logo
Product GuideSign in
  • Awards
    • Parents' Choice Awards 2023
  • Pregnancy
    • Due date calculator
    • I'm pregnant
    • Trying To Conceive
    • Labour
    • After birth
    • Baby loss
  • Parenting
    • Parent's Guide
    • Relationship & Sex
  • Child
    • Newborn
    • Baby
    • Toddler
    • Pre-Schooler
    • Kid
    • Pre-Teen & Teen
  • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diseases-Injuries
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Meal Planner
    • Health
    • Allergies & Conditions
    • Vaccinations
  • Education
    • Pre-School
    • Primary School
    • Secondary School
    • Primary School Directory
  • Lifestyle
    • Money
    • Travel & Leisure
    • Fashion
    • Home
    • Fitness
    • Contests & promotions
  • News
    • International
    • Health
    • Celebrity
    • Singapore
  • TAP Recommends
  • Shopping
  • Press Releases
  • Project Sidekicks
  • Community
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
  • Become A Contributor
  • VIP

How to Prevent the Flu: Tips on Avoiding Influenza

3 min read

It’s never a pleasant feeling to be down with the flu: your nose is blocked, your head hurts, and your entire body is aching. Transmitted through droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes or speaks, the flu — or influenza — is a contagious viral disease.

While most tend to recover from the flu within a week or so, it’s always better not to fall ill at all. Here are a few tips on how you can avoid the flu and protect yourself from the influenza virus.

Tips on Avoiding the Flu

  • Practice good hand hygiene

A simple way of avoiding the flu — and other viral infections — is to adopt good hygiene practices, specifically keeping your hands clean.

Make it a habit to wash or sanitise your hands regularly and also avoid touching your face unnecessarily, especially after you’ve touched a public surface. This is because germs may live on hard surfaces for extended periods of time; touching these surfaces and then touching your face may result in you infecting yourself accidentally.

As such, make sure to wash your hands thoroughly — particularly before meals or before touching any part of your face.

  • Strengthen your immune system

Having a strong immune system will help your body fight off any infections — not just influenza — on the off chance that you come in contact with these nasty viruses.

Being consistent with good lifestyle habits is the way to build a strong immune system. This includes:

  • Eating a balanced diet that includes leafy vegetables, fruits, and lean protein
  • Keeping active (such as going for regular evening walks after work or playing sports with friends on the weekend)
  • Getting at least 7 hours of quality sleep every night

If you think your immune system needs a little boost, you can also try taking vitamins and supplements and see if your body feels any different.

  • Get your annual flu shot

The influenza vaccination is the primary and most effective way to prevent influenza and influenza-associated complications, especially for individuals that are at higher risk of complications. These flu vaccines are updated annually to ensure that it’s the most effective against the ever-changing influenza virus.

The influenza vaccine works by stimulating the body’s immune system to recognize and fight the flu virus. The vaccine contains either an inactivated or weakened form of the flu virus or pieces of the virus’s genetic material.

When the vaccine is injected into the body, the immune system recognises the virus as foreign and produces antibodies to fight it. If a person is later exposed to the actual flu virus, their immune system is able to recognise and quickly fight the virus, reducing the severity and duration of the illness.

It’s important to note that it takes about 2 weeks after vaccination for the body to develop protection against the flu.

Am I Eligible for Flu Vaccinations?

Subsidised flu vaccinations are available for in-clinic appointments, depending on your demographic and risk profile. You may be eligible for a subsidised flu vaccination if you are a Singaporean citizen who is:

  • Aged 65 and older
  • Aged 18 – 64 years old and has existing chronic health conditions
  • An infant between 6 – 17 months or a child in a high-risk group
  • A pregnant woman

If you’re unsure about your suitability for a flu vaccination, it’s good to speak to a doctor to clarify your doubts.

cervical cancer
Partner Stories
4 Good Toilet Hygiene Habits for Kids to Have Early in Life
4 Good Toilet Hygiene Habits for Kids to Have Early in Life
Flu in Singapore: Is Your Family Protected?
Flu in Singapore: Is Your Family Protected?
6 Top Ways to Prevent Diaper Rash
6 Top Ways to Prevent Diaper Rash
Experiencing Mood Swings, Irregular Periods and Weight Gain Among Other Things? Here’s What You Need to Know About Hormonal Imbalance
Experiencing Mood Swings, Irregular Periods and Weight Gain Among Other Things? Here’s What You Need to Know About Hormonal Imbalance

Image Source: iStock

This article was first published on Doctor Anywhere and republished on theAsianparent with permission.

Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download theAsianparent Community on iOS or Android now!

img
Written by

Camille Eusebio

  • Home
  • /
  • Health
  • /
  • How to Prevent the Flu: Tips on Avoiding Influenza
Share:
  • Chromium: Health Benefits and Recommended Dosage

    Chromium: Health Benefits and Recommended Dosage

  • 8 Mindfulness Exercises To Do With Your Child

    8 Mindfulness Exercises To Do With Your Child

  • 10 Immunity-boosting Foods To Help Your Child Fight Influenza And Fever

    10 Immunity-boosting Foods To Help Your Child Fight Influenza And Fever

  • Chromium: Health Benefits and Recommended Dosage

    Chromium: Health Benefits and Recommended Dosage

  • 8 Mindfulness Exercises To Do With Your Child

    8 Mindfulness Exercises To Do With Your Child

  • 10 Immunity-boosting Foods To Help Your Child Fight Influenza And Fever

    10 Immunity-boosting Foods To Help Your Child Fight Influenza And Fever

Get advice on your pregnancy and growing baby. Sign up for our newsletter
  • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Education
    • Events
    • Allergies & Conditions
  • Family Occasions
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Child Safety
    • Health
    • Diseases-Injuries
  • Lifestyle
    • Home
    • Money
    • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diet & Weightloss
  • Normal Delivery
    • Cesarean Delivery
    • Behaviour
    • Secondary School
    • Formula Feeding
  • Ages & Stages
    • Latching & Concerns
    • Festivals & Holidays
    • Education
    • Pre-teen & Teen
  • More
    • TAP Community
    • Advertise With Us
    • Contact Us
    • Become a Contributor


  • Singapore flag Singapore
  • Thailand flag Thailand
  • Indonesia flag Indonesia
  • Philippines flag Philippines
  • Malaysia flag Malaysia
  • Sri-Lanka flag Sri Lanka
  • India flag India
  • Vietnam flag Vietnam
  • Australia flag Australia
  • Japan flag Japan
  • Nigeria flag Nigeria
  • Kenya flag Kenya
© Copyright theAsianparent 2023. All rights reserved
About Us|Team|Privacy Policy|Terms of Use |Sitemap HTML
  • Tools
  • Articles
  • Feed
  • Poll

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

theAsianparent heart icon
We’d like to send you notifications for the latest news and updates on baby care and health.