"Autumn is a fun time to participate in outdoor activities with family and friends, but sometimes we forget that cold and flu season is beginning, and we are not always prepared," says Dr. Peters. "My tips below are designed to help people of all ages be prepared ahead of cold and flu season and remain healthy."
• Get vaccinated. Mask wearing and social distancing contributed to a less-severe-than-normal cold and flu season during 2020-2021, and with COVID-19 restrictions expected to continue to decrease, it is more important than ever to get vaccinated. The CDC recommends all persons aged 6 months and older receive an annual flu vaccine as they are safe and proven to be effective in preventing sickness, and reducing the risk of having flu-like symptoms. The pandemic is ongoing and flu-like symptoms require COVID testing and potential quarantine at home, which is what many seek to avoid.
• Keep your body moving. It is estimated that people who exercise 30 - 45 minutes a day experience 40% - 50% fewer sick days. Whether it be taking a daily walk during your lunch break, jogging in the morning, or attending a workout class with a friend, keeping your body moving will help you avoid getting sick. If you're new to daily exercise, try starting small by incorporating 2-3 workouts/activities a week and gradually increasing over time.
• Stock your medicine cabinet. Take advantage of the time that you are feeling well to prepare your medicine cabinet for when you're not. Throw out any expired medications and replace with fresh decongestants and antihistamines. And be sure to remember to pick up fever and pain relief products as well as a cold shortener so you can get back on your feet quicker. Zicam RapidMelts® and Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Spray® are great products, as they shorten colds versus just temporarily relieving symptoms.
• Stock your pantry. It's important to stock your medicine cabinet in preparation for cold and flu season, but it's also just as important to stock your pantry. Having comfort foods and energizing drinks on hand for when you're not feeling well is crucial in your recovery process. Try stocking up on frozen vegetables, which will provide your body with nutrients when you're feeling sick, ice pops, which will soothe a sore throat, and chicken soup, which will help eliminate chills.
• Create a cleaning routine. It has been proven that cold and flu viruses can survive for days on uncleaned surfaces such as metal, plastic, and wood. So cleaning household surfaces and objects is one of the best precautions you can take to protect yourself and your family from contracting illness. Create a twice- weekly cleaning routine in which you heavily soak countertops, doorknobs, and TV remotes with antibacterial, bleach and hydrogen peroxide products.
Then her son attended church camp, and, unknowingly, brought the virus home. Bramlett woke up one morning with a throbbing headache, 103-degree fever and fatigue. She also discovered she had lost her sense of smell and taste, telltale symptoms of the coronavirus. Eleven days later, she couldn’t get out of bed. Her head was hurting so badly that her husband took her to the hospital where they checked her for a brain bleed.
"I was terrified because I had never had head pain like this before," said Bramlett. She was diagnosed with inflammation of her brain vessels and myocarditis, a heart condition that made her heart feel like she was constantly running on a treadmill. Her body swelled as her kidney functions failed. Her recovery ultimately took 72 days.
"It was really, really scary and I don’t wish that on anybody," Bramlett says of the experience.
While Bramlett was ill, she asked her doctor if she could get vaccinated, but her medical team advised that she had to wait until she was feeling better. The moment she was cleared, Bramlett went right to the drug store for her vaccine.
"The hardest part was that people were dying all around me the entire time I was sick—healthy people, young people," Bramlett reflects. “I just felt so stupid. Here’s this vaccine available and I just assumed that it wouldn’t happen to me."
In fact, COVID-19 remains a serious threat across the U.S. as we head into the pandemic’s second winter. The Delta variant, which now makes up virtually all cases in the country, spreads more easily than the common cold and has led to a dramatic increase in hospitalizations nationwide. This rise in serious cases and deaths was most pronounced in the Southern U.S., where vaccination rates are lower.
What The CDC Says
According to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention, people who have not yet been vaccinated are 29 times more likely to be hospitalized and 11 times more likely to die from COVID-19 complications, compared to those who have already received their vaccine.
Other CDC data reveals people ages 18 to 49 are the largest demographic hospitalized for COVID-19 as of September 25. Studies also show that even for individuals who have a mild case of COVID-19 and avoid hospitalization, they remain at risk of post-COVID symptoms, often called long COVID, that may last for weeks, months or longer. Symptoms of long COVID appear to affect as many as one in three people infected with the virus.
Bramlett now shares her experience with her friends and family to encourage them to consider being vaccinated. She urges everyone to talk to their doctor and learn about how they can keep themselves healthy and safe, so they can be present for their own children and families. To those still hesitant, Stephanie Bramlett says: "I understand. I understand that people are scared. I respect whatever decision you make or how you feel about the COVID-19 vaccine, but I would encourage people to do what they have to do to find the truth and do what you need to do to keep yourself healthy and safe."
Learn More
COVID-19 vaccines are safe, effective, widely available and free to everyone in the U.S. age twelve and older. Additionally, the FDA has formally approved Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine in the U.S. for those sixteen and older.
If you have questions about the COVID-19 vaccines, talk to a doctor or pharmacist, and visit www.GetVaccineAnswers.org for the latest information.
