When a serious disease strikes鈥攆rom Ebola in Africa to MRSA at a local high school鈥攜ou鈥檙e quite likely to hear a calm, clear explanation on the news from . A 菠萝视频 professor of preventive medicine, he is one of the most-often-quoted infectious disease experts in the English-speaking world, with regular appearances on every major news outlet. His kind, down-home demeanor conjures a Norman Rockwell doctor brought to life. 菠萝视频 Magazine spoke to Schaffner, who has been at 菠萝视频 since his residency in 1964, about the best ways to avoid getting sick this winter.
1. Get a flu shot.
This is the single most important thing anyone can do to stay healthy, Schaffner says, especially if you鈥檙e pregnant, over 65 years old, or have an underlying disease. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not a perfect vaccine,鈥� he admits. But when people complain they got the flu despite having the shot, he has a ready response: 鈥淚鈥檓 just glad you鈥檙e still here to tell me about it and not in the hospital.鈥� Flu complications like pneumonia are more likely to develop鈥攁nd be more severe鈥攚ithout the shot. If you haven鈥檛 been vaccinated, it may not be too late. 鈥淔lu is fickle, but it tends to peak in February鈥� he says. Plus, this year鈥檚 inoculation is well-matched against the most likely strain, H3N2, a nasty bug.
2. Keep your hands clean.
Everyone knows this, but it鈥檚 worth a reminder: Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or a sanitizing gel during the winter months. 鈥淢y wife is the hand-washing captain in our house,鈥� Schaffner says. 鈥淵ou come in, take off your coat and wash your hands.鈥� Use sanitizing wipes at grocery stores to clean the cart handle. And if anyone tries to tell you that germs build your immunity, tell him that鈥檚 only for kids who should play in the mud every once in a while. 鈥淚f you鈥檙e an adult, wash your hands,鈥� he says.
3. Cough into your elbow.
Tuck your head into your elbow, and cough or sneeze there. If you haven鈥檛 seen this proper cough-and-sneeze maneuver, ask some school kids to teach you. Some people even bump elbows to greet each other instead of shaking hands.
4. Stay home.
When peak flu season hits, consider staying home, Schaffner says. 鈥淩ent a movie instead of going out to one,鈥� he says. 鈥淵ou also might want to stay home from your house of worship.鈥� And when you are the one who鈥檚 sick, definitely stay home. The machismo attitude of going to work despite illness is a primary cause for the flu鈥檚 spread each winter, he says.
5. Take flu medicine.
The unpleasant fact of flu is that you鈥檒l probably get some version of it eventually. Schaffner advises calling your doctor as soon as symptoms develop. 鈥淚f you take medicine to treat it within the first 48 hours, it will reduce your chances of getting the full-blown flu,鈥� he says. And how does one distinguish between a simple head cold and the flu? If your symptoms are only above the neck, it鈥檚 probably a cold. If they鈥檙e below the neck, like muscle aches or chest congestion, then it鈥檚 likely the flu.
Text by Ryan Underwood
Illustrations by Dave Whamond