How has the new year started off for you? Are you feeling healthy and maybe even confident that you’ve dodged the flu? Well, before you get too celebratory, better to be cautious, as the flu season is really now just getting underway around the country and will continue all the way into April. And while it appears this may be a milder flu season than last year, that’s no reason to be complacent or lazy when it comes to protecting yourself. As you may know, older individuals are at greater risk, both getting the flu and having more serious symptoms once afflicted.

Of course, it’s common to wonder whether you have a bad cold or if you really do have the flu and need to see a doctor. For a handy chart about whether it makes sense to have yourself checked out, put down your tissues and click here. Generally speaking, the flu comes on more quickly and intensely, especially as your body tries to fight off the viral infection. In fact, many of the flu symptoms you experience are due to your body attacking the virus, rather than the virus itself.

As you probably know, there are now anti-viral medications on the market to help lessen the severity of your symptoms. And this year, there’s even a new medication that interferes with the ability of the flu virus to multiply if you start the medication early enough. No matter what, the key is to be mindful of your potential exposure, and even at this late date, a flu shot can still be helpful if you haven’t already had one. Medicare will even pay for 2 flu shots in one calendar year. So cheers to your good health, and flu avoidance, in this new year.