Maybe you’ll be lucky and miss the onslaught, but many of us will become stricken with the flu this season. It’s shaping up to be an especially severe one, according to the CDC, with statistics showing that just through the end of December, over 6 million people have gotten the flu and over 3000 deaths have been reported. You probably know that those over 65 (and under age 2) are the most at risk for complications. So if you haven’t yet gotten the vaccine, run and get it (even if you still come down with the flu, the vaccination will likely mean a milder case). To find out more about this year’s flu epidemic, grab your tissues and click here, and for some great general advice about what you should know for this year’s flu vaccine and flu season, check-in here with Dr. Leslie Kernisan of Better Health While Aging.

And if you do come down with the flu? Well, how you weather that storm will likely depend on your underlying health and what you do within the early hours of your diagnosis. For example, NPR has reported that those who suffer from excess weight or obesity will be at more risk for complications, as the vaccine is not as effective in overweight people and thus those flu victims can become sicker (and spread the illness more as well, unfortunately.) Consumer Reports has a brand new article on how you can best guard yourself against flu complications, including pneumonia and bronchitis. Among their suggestions? Everything from the basics of hand-washing and hydration to stocking up on anti-viral meds such as Tamiflu (or you may want to ask your doctor about Xofluza, a newer anti-viral that may be better for those over 65). The anti-viral meds work best when started in the first several hours of your illness, so best to get checked out, and under a doctor’s care, if you have any suspicions you’ve become infected.