Have the flu? Here's what you need to do

The U.S. is suffering through one of the worst flu seasons in years, which is unsettling news for older adults who are at much higher risk of becoming seriously ill from influenza than their

younger counterparts. Outbreak tracking maps show that the vast majority of the country is experiencing high or very high levels of flu activity, and health experts say it’s not clear when

infections will slow down. While flu activity typically peaks between December and February, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says it can stretch into April. Already, the

CDC estimates that the current flu season has seen at least 24 million illnesses, 310,000 hospitalizations and 13,000 deaths from influenza, and the number of cases continues to climb. For

plenty of people, a case of the flu is mostly mild. That is not true, however, as you age. The rate of flu hospitalizations among older adults towers over younger populations, the latest CDC

data shows. “Even though people over 60 are less than 20 percent of the population, they account for over 80 percent of the serious complications of influenza,” says William Schaffner,

M.D., medical director of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases and professor of preventive medicine and infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. No matter your

age, getting a flu shot can help keep you healthy — and while the ideal time is early fall, doctors say it’s not too late. More than half of the overall U.S. population has yet to receive

this year’s flu shot, according to the CDC. Roughly 70 percent of older adults got the vaccine for the 2024-2025 season.  Unfortunately, a flu shot isn’t foolproof. “So what you do when you

get the flu turns out to be very important for this [over 60] age group,” Schaffner says. EMERGENCY WARNING SIGNS OF FLU COMPLICATIONS If you experience any of the following, seek medical

attention right away: * Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath * Persistent pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen * Persistent dizziness, confusion, inability to arouse * Seizures *

Not urinating * Severe muscle pain * Severe weakness or unsteadiness * Fever or cough that improves but then returns or worsens * Worsening chronic medical conditions _Source: CDC _ Here are

eight ways to hasten your recovery from the flu, and the warning signs of a severe infection you need to know. 1. CALL YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER ASAP Not everyone who gets the flu needs to

see their doctor, but people over 65 do. That’s because age itself — along with many other conditions that often come along in later years, such as diabetes and heart disease — puts you at

risk for serious complications from the flu, namely pneumonia. “As we age, our immune system responds less vigorously than it does when we’re younger,” explains Stuart Ray, M.D., professor

of medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Johns Hopkins Hospital. “Both antibodies and T cells play important roles in protecting against infection and severe disease from

influenza. And those tend to decrease during late adulthood.” Your doctor will likely prescribe an antiviral medication that helps your body fight off the influenza virus. Research shows

that taking an antiviral, like Tamiflu, at the first sign of the flu can reduce symptoms and shorten your bout of the flu by one day. _DON’T POSTPONE TREATMENT_ With antivirals, time is of

the essence. You should take them within 48 hours after symptoms kick in. “What we adults tend to do is say, ‘I’d rather not go to the doctor. Let’s see if I feel better tomorrow,’”

Schaffner says. “When we get what we think is influenza, it’s important to contact our health care provider, because the sooner we get the treatment, the better the success of the

treatment.”