For Asthma Sufferers, a Flu Shot is Vital Protection

About the Flu and Asthma: Influenza, or the flu, is a viral infection that affects the airways. It's a serious illness. Although most people recover in a week or two, 200,000 or more become sick enough to need hospital treatment. About 36,000 people in the U.S. each year die from the flu. Flu season runs between November and April, but the worst months are December, January and February.

What This Has to Do With Asthma: When you have asthma, your airways are already somewhat inflamed and therefore more susceptible to infection. That means it is easier for you to catch the flu if you are exposed to it. Also, you are more likely to have a severe case of the flu, because your airways are already weakened. In fact, the flu can trigger a severe asthma attack. You also may have more serious complications, such as pneumonia. So, the flu is serious business for someone who has asthma.

Symptoms of the Flu: Some of the symptoms of the flu may feel similar at first to those you have from asthma, especially if you also have allergies, which many people with asthma do. You may notice a cough, more shortness of breath, and a runny or stuffy nose. But, in addition, the flu causes unique symptoms such as: high fever with chills, aching, tender muscles, headache, extreme fatigue and loss of energy, and a sore throat.

About the "Stomach Flu": There really is no such thing as the "stomach flu." The flu is a respiratory illness, for the most part. When people describe having the stomach flu, they usually mean a viral illness that causes symptoms in the gastrointestinal tract. But, a few people--mostly children--do have symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrahea when they have the flu.

How to Prevent the Flu: The best method for staying healthy during flu season is to avoid being exposed to anyone with the flu. But, if you work or go to school, that's not always possible. So, the next best method is to get the flu vaccine each fall. Vaccines are available in shot form for everyone. If you are between the ages of 5 and 49, you may also be eligible for a nasal spray. It's important to prevent the flu, because once you have it, it's very hard to treat. Antibiotics don't work on viruses.

How the Flu Vaccine Helps: Studies have shown that when people who have asthma get a flu shot, they reduce their risk of severe asthma attacks by a whopping 22 percent to 41 percent. The effect in children is even more dramatic. Experts estimate that emergency care for children with asthma during flu season could be reduced by 78 percent if all of them got flu shots.

When to Get a Flu Shot: It can take about two weeks for full immunity to build up after you get a flu shot. This is because it takes time for your body to make the antibodies to the flu virus. So it's best to get your flu shot before flu season actually starts. If you do catch the flu before you have full immunity, your symptoms should be milder than they would have been without the shot. The best time to get the shot is in the fall, usually beginning in late September.

About the Risks: Contrary to what you may have heard, you cannot get the flu from a flu shot. That is because flu vaccine is made from killed virus. So, although the killed virus will stimulate your body to make antibodies, it can't cause the flu. If you do have flu-like symptoms after getting a shot, it is probably a different illness. Or, you may have already been exposed to the flu before getting the shot.

Who Should Not Get a Flu Vaccine: There are a few people who should talk to their doctors before getting a flu vaccine. Flu viruses for the vaccine are grown in chicken eggs. Most of the egg tissue is filtered out during the process, but if you are allergic to eggs, you should check with your doctor first. Also, flu vaccines may contain a chemical called thimerosal. Thimerosal will probably cause no harm in most people, but you may want to ask about a preservative-free flu shot or the nasal spray if you have concerns.

In Summary: The American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology highly recommends that all people who have asthma get a flu vaccine every year. The circulating flu viruses are different from year to year, so the vaccine needs to be different each year too.

Because experts have to make an educated guess far in advance as to which flu strains will be active each year, it is possible to still get the flu after having a flu shot. Even so, you should get the vaccine, because this is your best protection against the flu.

Other Preventive Measures

As mentioned earlier, if you can stay away from other people who have the flu, you can lower your risk for getting the flu. If you are sick, you should stay away from others too, to help prevent spreading the flu. Also, washing your hands thoroughly and often can help protect you from germs of all kinds. The flu, like many viruses, can be spread through droplets in the air when people cough and sneeze. So use a tissue to cough or sneeze into.

If you do catch the flu, there may be antiviral medicine that can greatly reduce the severity of your symptoms – if you start taking it as soon as you become ill. Check with your doctor to see if this is an option for you. Also, get plenty of rest and drink lots of liquids to avoid dehydration.

Finally, make sure you have an updated asthma action plan to guide you should an asthma attack strike.

Sources:

American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology, < "Topic of the Month: October 2006."> Flu shot recommended for people with asthma. AAAAI. 09 Oct 2006.

Centers for Disease Control, <"Influenza (the Flu): Questions & Answers."> 24 July 2006. CDC. 12 Oct 2006 .

Centers for Disease Control, <"Influenza (the Flu): Questions & Answers."> Questions & Answers: Preventing the Flu. 24 June 2006. CDC. 12 Oct 2006.