Flu and Pneumonia Awareness and Prevention

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you with an overview of the wellness topic to help you and your family get and stay healthy.

It is not intended as a substitute for the professional advice and care of your doctor.

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Definitions and Statistics

Vaccines

Myths and Facts

General Prevention Techniques

Treatment

1

2

3

4

6 Resources and Your Questions

5

Agenda

What Is the Flu?

• The flu is a contagious respiratory

illness caused by influenza viruses

that infect the nose, throat and

sometimes the lungs.

• It can cause mild to severe illness,

and at times can lead to death.

• Peak flu season in the United States

is from December through February.

A Few Statistics

Source: WebMD®

• 5% to 20% – Percentage of the U.S. population that will get the flu, on average,

each year.

• 200,000 – Average number of Americans hospitalized each year because

of problems with the illness.

• $10 billion+ – Average costs of hospitalizations and outpatient doctor visits

related to the flu.

• 3,000 to 49,000 – Number of people who die each year from flu-related causes

in the U.S.

Potential Complications

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

• Pneumonia

• Ear infections

• Sinus infections

• Worsening of:

- Congestive heart failure

- Asthma

- Diabetes

Who Is Most at Risk for Complications?

Source: WebMD

• Children younger than 5, but especially

children younger than 2

• Adults age 65 and older

• Pregnant women

• Native American and Alaskan Natives

• People with:

- Asthma

- BMI of more than 40

- Blood disorders

- Cancer

- Chronic lung disease

- Diabetes

- Heart disease

- HIV

- Kidney or liver

disorders

Is It the Flu or a Cold?

Source: WebMD

Flu• Comes on suddenly

• More intense symptoms:

• Fatigue

• Muscles or body aches

• Fever (100 to 104 degrees)

• Sore throat

• Headache

• Cough

• Nasal swab test can diagnose

• Can be treated with anti-viral

medication if diagnosed within

48 hours

Cold• Comes on gradually

• Less intense symptoms:

• Runny or stuffy nose

• Low (or no) fever

• Sore throat

• Headache

• Cough

• No specific diagnostic test

• Over-the-counter medications can

alleviate symptoms

Pneumonia

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

• An infection of the lungs

• Symptoms include cough, fever and trouble breathing

• 1 million people contract pneumonia in the United States each year

• 50,000 deaths per year

• Influenza can lead to pneumonia

Who Is at Highest Risk for Pneumonia?

Source: WebMD

• Adults over age 65

• Children under age 5

• People who have chronic medical

conditions such as asthma, diabetes,

heart disease

• People who smoke cigarettes

How Does Flu Spread?

Source: WebMD

• Droplets are released when people talk,

sneeze or cough.

• Droplets land in the mouths or noses of

nearby people and get inhaled into the lungs.

• The flu can spread up to 6 feet away from the

infected person.

• The flu can also spread if you touch a surface

with the virus on it, then touch your eyes, nose

or mouth. This happens less often than

droplets spreading through the air.

How Long Do Germs Live Outside the Body?

Source: WebMD

• Hard surfaces: a few

minutes to 24 hours

• Soft surfaces (sheets,

towels, tissues): a few

minutes

When Is Someone Contagious?

Source: WebMD

• Sadly, an infected person can begin infecting others 24 hours before the

onset of symptoms. The person remains contagious for five to seven days

after becoming sick.

• Children may pass along the virus for more than seven days.

• Symptoms begin one to four days after the virus enters the body.

• It is very easy to be near someone who is infected and not know it.

Prevention

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Proper way

to sneeze

Clean to Kill – Germs, That Is

Source: WebMD

When cleaning, focus on:

• Doorknobs

• Hand rails

• Desks

• Tables

• Faucets

• Computer keyboards and mice

• Remote controls

• Toys

Best Practices for Prevention

Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; WebMD

• Avoid close contact with sick people.

• Stay home when you are sick to

avoid infecting others.

• Stay home for at least 24 hours after

your fever is gone.

• Throw all tissues in the trash

immediately after use.

• Try to avoid shaking hands with

others during peak season.

• Wash your hands.

• Get a flu shot.

Wash Your Hands Throughout the Day

Source: WebMD

Including:

• Before eating (particularly finger foods:

sandwiches, pizza, etc.)

• After a commute (buses, subway trains)

• After using the bathroom

• After touching toys used by multiple

children

• After touching animals

• After interacting with people or the

belongings of people who are sick

Proper Handwashing

Source: WebMD

• Antibacterial soap is not necessary.

In fact, antibacterial soaps add to more

antibacterial resistance in the

environment.

• Flu is caused by virus, not bacteria.

• Any soap will do. Soap doesn’t kill the

germs, it dislodges them from your skin

and sends them down the drain.

• Scrubbing is what matters most.

• Wash for 20-30 seconds. Sing “Happy

Birthday” twice.

What About Hand Sanitizers?

Source: WebMD

• Good alternative to

soap and water.

• Rub until hands are

completely dry.

Seasonal Flu Shots

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

• The flu shot protects against

the three or four viruses that

research predicts will be most

common during the upcoming

season.

• Need to get one each year.

• Recommended for everyone

over six months, including

pregnant women and people

with chronic health conditions.

Who Should Not Get a Flu Shot?

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

• Children younger than 6 months.

• People with severe life-threatening

allergies to ingredients in the shot.

Talk to your doctor if:

• You are allergic to eggs.

• You have ever had Guillain-Barre

Syndrome.

• You are not feeling well at time of

vaccination.

Flu Shot Effectiveness

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Preventions

• Reduces flu illness in the overall population

by 40%-60%.

• Associated with lower risks of cardiac

events among people with heart disease.

• Reduces hospitalizations among people

with diabetes (79%) and chronic lung

disease (52%).

• Can make your illness milder if you do get

sick.

• Protects those around you.

Scenario

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

• Scientifically impossible.

• The vaccine is made with an

“inactivated” virus.

• Only a live virus can give you the flu.

• The inactive virus simply arms your

immune system with the ability to fight a

live virus should it enter your body.

“I got a flu shot once, and it gave me the flu!”

Scenario

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; WebMD

Possibilities:

• You were exposed to the virus a few days before or after your vaccination.

- Immunity kicks in two weeks after the injection

• You became ill with something that wasn’t the flu

- The vaccine only protects against flu, not colds, stomach bugs, etc.

• You had mild, flu-like side effects.

• You fell into the 40% to 60% who get a flu strain not covered by the vaccine.

It was not the vaccine that made you sick.

“So why did I get sick after the flu shot?”

Common Flu Shot Side Effects

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

• Soreness, redness, swelling

at the injection site

• Low-grade fever

• Achiness

All of these symptoms are

generally mild, if they occur at

all, and last one to two days.

Vaccines to Protect from Pneumonia

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

• Hepatitis B

• Influenza (flu)

• Measles

• Pertussis (whooping cough)

• Pneumococcal1

• Chicken pox

1Two doses, one year apart, recommended for

adults 65 and older. Speak with your doctor or

pharmacist about whether this recommendation

applies to you.

The Flu: Myth or Fact?

Source: WebMD

• Going outside with your hair wet can give you the flu.

• Antibiotics will make your flu get better.

• The flu shot is effective throughout the entire flu season.

• Chicken soup will make me better.

• Feed a fever, starve a cold.

Flu Treatment

Source: WebMD

• Anti-viral medicine

- Must take within two days

of onset of symptoms

• Fever-reducing medications

• Fluids

• Rest

Key Takeaways for Staying Healthy

Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; WebMD

• Healthy food, exercise, plenty of sleep

build a strong immune system.

• Wash your hands properly and often.

• Stay home when you’re sick.

• Avoid people who aren’t healthy.

• Get your flu shot each year.

Questions?

Sources

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: cdc.gov

• WebMD: webmd.com

Online Doctor & Hospital Finder

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you get the care you need when you need it.

To use the Online Doctor & Hospital Finder, visit HorizonBlue.com/doctorfinder.

• Select the type of health care professional you are looking for.

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• Narrow your search by using one of the filters. You can filter by distance from your selected

location, gender, language spoken and more.

• Use the Doctor Affiliation filter to get a list of all the participating health care professionals that

are part of a group practice or enter the name of a hospital for all the doctors who can care

for you at the facility.

Online Doctor & Hospital Finder

If you’re sick and need care, it’s important to see a doctor as quickly as possible. But what if you

don’t have one? The Horizon BCBSNJ Online Doctor & Hospital Finder can help. Whether you’re

looking for an in-network general practitioner, a specialist or an urgent care center, we can help

you get the care you need when you need it.

To use the Online Doctor & Hospital Finder, visit HorizonBlue.com/doctorfinder.

• Select the type of health care professional you are looking for.

• Next, select your plan from the Choose a Plan to Start dropdown menu. Not sure which plan

you have? Check the front of your member ID card.

• Narrow your search by using one of the filters. You can filter by distance from your selected

location, gender, language spoken and more.

• Use the Doctor Affiliation filter to get a list of all the participating health care professionals that

are part of a group practice or enter the name of a hospital for all the doctors who can care

for you at the facility.

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