{"id":30767,"date":"2025-12-30T15:18:34","date_gmt":"2025-12-30T15:18:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ldblifestylebenefits.com\/?p=30767"},"modified":"2025-12-30T15:18:34","modified_gmt":"2025-12-30T15:18:34","slug":"give-the-gift-of-health-this-holiday-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ldblifestylebenefits.com\/index.php\/2025\/12\/30\/give-the-gift-of-health-this-holiday-season\/","title":{"rendered":"Give the Gift of Health This Holiday Season!"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><p>[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]It\u2019s that time of year again: snowfall, chilly weather, and \u2026 sneezes. While the holiday season brings us inside to gather around the fireplace with family and friends, it means an increase in flu cases across the country.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/4&#8243;][vc_single_image image=&#8221;30789&#8243; img_size=&#8221;full&#8221; css=&#8221;&#8221;][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;3\/4&#8243;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]The flu, or influenza, is a contagious virus that infects the respiratory system. It specifically targets the nose, throat, and occasionally, lungs. The flu can cause mild to severe illness, or, in some cases, death. Common symptoms of the flu <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/flu\/about\/index.html\">include<\/a>:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Fever or chills<\/li>\n<li>Cough<\/li>\n<li>Sore throat<\/li>\n<li>Runny or stuffy nose<\/li>\n<li>Body aches<\/li>\n<li>Headaches<\/li>\n<li>Fatigue<\/li>\n<li>Vomiting or diarrhea (mostly common in children)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/diseases-conditions\/flu\/symptoms-causes\/syc-20351719\">Eye pain, or eyes that are sensitive or watery<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Jet injectors can generate the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/topics\/medicine-and-dentistry\/jet-injector\">same (or more)<\/a> amount of antibodies as the traditional needle injection can.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]People with the flu may experience all, a couple, or, in rare cases, none of the symptoms mentioned. The flu can appear as the common cold, especially in individuals who experience only a sore throat and runny nose. However, the symptoms of the flu are often more intense than those of the common cold, and the virus sets in much more quickly after exposure.<\/p>\n<p>The length of time that the virus is contagious varies from person to person. Generally, people are the most contagious during the first 3 days of feeling sick. However, some adults are contagious 1 day before they begin to feel sick and can continue to infect others from 5 \u2013 7 days after their symptoms develop. Make sure to stay at home for at least a full 24 hours after you are fever-free.<\/p>\n<p>The flu travels in tiny droplets created when a person sick with the flu coughs, sneezes, or talks. If these droplets land in your eyes, mouth, or nose, you could become sick within <a href=\"https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/what-are-the-first-signs-of-the-flu-3894570\">24 to 48 hours<\/a>. You could also become ill by touching a surface with the droplets and then touching your face.<\/p>\n<p>The most effective way to stay safe this flu season is getting a flu shot. This lowers the risk of infection and lessens the severity of your symptoms if you do become sick. The flu shot contains the variants of the flu predicted to be the most common within the season, and a new vaccine is created every year. After receiving your flu shot, your immune system takes about 2 weeks to develop the antibodies needed to protect you from the flu. It\u2019s recommended to get your flu shot in September or October, but it can be beneficial for you at any time. The flu still spreads during the warmer months, just less quickly.<\/p>\n<p>Since the flu is a rapidly changing virus, last year\u2019s shot may not protect you from this year\u2019s strain. Antibodies may also decrease over time, leaving your immune system at risk for catching a serious strain of the flu. Get a new flu shot every year to ensure your body is best equipped for flu season!<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re not a fan of needles, there are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/flu\/vaccine-types\/index.html\">other ways<\/a> to receive your flu shot that work just as well. For those under the age of 65, you can opt for the use of a jet injector. This device uses a high-pressure, narrow stream of liquid that delivers the vaccine straight through your skin without ever piercing the top layer. There\u2019s also a nasal spray that is approved for those between the ages 2 and 49.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>According to one <a href=\"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/jid\/article-abstract\/232\/4\/e637\/7909881?redirectedFrom=fulltext&amp;login=true\">study<\/a>, 8% of people who tested positive with the flu in the years 2017-2023 did not have any symptoms at all.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;3\/4&#8243;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]It\u2019s especially important to receive a flu shot if you are considered a high-risk individual. You are considered high-risk if you <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/diseases-conditions\/flu\/in-depth\/flu-shots\/art-20048000\">are<\/a>:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Over the age of 65<\/li>\n<li>Living in a nursing home or long-care facility<\/li>\n<li>A child under the age of 12 months<\/li>\n<li>Pregnant, planning to be pregnant, or have recently given birth<\/li>\n<li>Suffering from a chronic illness<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In addition to your flu shot, there are other ways to minimize your chances of catching the flu. These <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/diseases-conditions\/flu\/in-depth\/flu-shots\/art-20048000\">include<\/a>:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Washing your hands for at least 20 seconds<\/li>\n<li>Not touching your face (eyes, nose, and mouth especially)<\/li>\n<li>Covering your coughs and sneezes<\/li>\n<li>Regularly cleaning surfaces in your house or place of work<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Avoiding crowds[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/4&#8243;][vc_single_image image=&#8221;30790&#8243; img_size=&#8221;full&#8221; css=&#8221;&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]Nobody wants to spend their holiday months suffering from the flu. Make sure you\u2019re protecting yourself and your loved ones by receiving your flu shot. If your New Year\u2019s Resolution is about staying healthy (and even if it\u2019s not), a flu shot is the perfect way to start your year off right![\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]It\u2019s that time of year again: snowfall, chilly weather, and \u2026 sneezes. While the holiday season brings us inside to gather around the fireplace with family and friends, it means an increase in flu cases across the country.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/4&#8243;][vc_single_image image=&#8221;30789&#8243; img_size=&#8221;full&#8221; css=&#8221;&#8221;][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;3\/4&#8243;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]The flu, or influenza, is a contagious virus that infects the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":30788,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[563,20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-30767","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-2026-january","category-lifestyle-and-wellness"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ldblifestylebenefits.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30767","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ldblifestylebenefits.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ldblifestylebenefits.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ldblifestylebenefits.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ldblifestylebenefits.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30767"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/ldblifestylebenefits.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30767\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30791,"href":"https:\/\/ldblifestylebenefits.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30767\/revisions\/30791"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ldblifestylebenefits.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/30788"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ldblifestylebenefits.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30767"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ldblifestylebenefits.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30767"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ldblifestylebenefits.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30767"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}