Home Care Blog

While still very debilitating, the severity of the flu has lessened and it seems that we unknowingly take for granted what once was a large concern in the health of our children. While it’s true that your Kaysville Family Medicine clinic is prepared to treat these viruses, what is the reason for this widespread epidemic? From November the April we enter what is known as the “flu season”, now the reasons why the colder weather gives us an increase of influenza cases has been debated and never fully proved, but a few possibilities are:

• Mucus membranes are dehydrated by colder air, and since the air is not only colder but also drier, this could lead to the body not properly protecting against respiratory viruses.
• There has been found a trend directly related to when children go back to school from summer break. This grouping of children may also have a major impact on the spread of the virus.
• The winter season also sees people indoors more often, which allows for easier spreading of viruses.
• With less sun exposure than in warmer months, the levels of Vitamin D drops and affects the strength of the immune system.

What is a flu shot?

The question of whether or not vaccinating your children will actually help prevent the flu as opposed to simply practicing healthy habits is asked frequently. When one receives the influenza vaccination they are actually being injected with 2 or 3 strains of dead flu virus. Your body will then build up an immunity to those specific strains of influenza. The reason for vaccinating every year by your Kaysville Family doctor is due to the mutation of the influenza virus which allows the flu to bypass these built up immunities. While there are definite benefits of receiving the flu shot, it should not be done in place of practicing healthy habits.

Healthy habits you can practice to protect against the flu:

• A healthy diet balanced with fruits and vegetables is a sure fire way to help your immune system.
• Proper sleep every night allows the body to rest and regain the energy needed to fight off illnesses.
• Exercising regularly strengthens the body and the immune system which both do their part in keeping us in optimal condition.

While these all may seem like common sense the most important thing to remember is maintaining balance. Too much of one thing is not healthy, so balancing out habits could make the difference between sickness and health.

Dr. Layne Kamalu
Kaysville Clinic
120 South Main Street
Kaysville, UT 84037
Ph: (801) 544-4227