Your Ultimate Guide to Avoiding This Year's Flu

Health     Nicholas English, Content Manager of About.com Health     Ah-choo! Oh, no. Have I caught the flu already? Did that vaccine not work? Could this be because of the vaccine? Or did I just put too much pepper on my lunch? Fall is indeed the time of year when colds and flus are on everybody’s mind. This year, we tell ourselves, I’m going to avoid it… but when you try to find out the best ways to avoid a cold, there’s so much confusing and conflicting information that it seems impossible to take any action. But this year, we’re here to help. More From About.com Health: About.com Health Facebook: About.com Health Follow Us On Twitter   Follow us on:     Bulk Up Your Immune System The best offence is a good defense, so to slay the flu virus before it infiltrates your system, make sure to manage your stress levels, eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, get sufficient vitamin D, and get plenty of sleep. Regular exercise boosts your immunity as well… just don’t overdo it.  READ NOW The Foods that May Prevent Colds and Flus 5 Ways to Naturally Boost Your Immunity   What Exactly Is The Flu? A cold, the flu, congestion, a simple cough… The cooler months bring a whole host of diseases that range from mildly irritating to a knock-down, drag-out germ brawl. Learn the difference and separate fact from fiction:  READ NOW Understanding Viral Infections Busting the 7 Biggest Myths About the Flu   Should I Get a Shot? Many schools and workplaces offer flu shots that are intended to reduce the risk of falling prey to a cold, but they don’t work all the time and some people experience adverse reactions. So what’s the best course of action?  READ NOW These Are Your Options for Flu Vaccines Can You Get a Flu Shot If You Already Have a Cold?   Spotting the Symptoms Stuffed nose? Sore throat? Body aches? Perhaps above all, it’s best to recognize the early symptoms of illness so that you can know exactly what to do when you have a cold.  READ NOW Is It a Cold or My Allergies? What Are the 2014 Flu Symptoms?   ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT More from About.com Sign up for Shareables! An every-morning rundown of the day in history, with headlines and trends produced by your pals at About.com. Click here to sign up! It's free (of course) and we think you'll like it! Want More From About.com? Check out our social channels tailored to every interest! Sign up for more free newsletters on your favorite topics You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About.com Programming newsletter. If you wish to unsubscribe, please click here. If you would like to unsubscribe from all newsletters sent from About.com, please send an email to optout@about.com with "Unsubscribe" as the subject line. Contact Information: 1500 Broadway, 6th Floor New York, NY, 10036 © 2014 About.com