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You have the flu: Now what?

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    Answers from Dr. David Samadi

  • Duration 5:00
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-- back to our top story the -- the flu reaching epidemic levels across the entire country right now.

The latest figures from the Centers for Disease Control showing 47.

States are reporting widespread flu activity.

Doctor David some bodies -- member of the Fox News medical -- team.

And the chief of the division of robotics and mount Sinai hospital he joins in now to talk about this because this is a very important topic.

What can people do to prevent having the -- -- -- the news is getting worse and worse through the key word was epidemic that you just mentioned we've been trying to avoid this.

But the numbers are on the rise in the is a state of emergency for example places -- Boston in the New York.

So you really need to protect yourself and -- are ways to really prevent flu and a lot of people called in.

And ask us exactly -- -- one of the person you have to do is to get vaccinated.

If you have not gotten the vaccine now it's the time because we are still not that the peak so there's enough time to do this.

The second thing is you really want to make sure that you.

Wash your hands on a regular basis because of the coffin droplets washing your has very go to the -- going to basically -- -- -- -- viruses.

That might get into your system.

The third -- it's really important as cover your mouth now there's good news that came out of -- -- and I'm sure a lot of other hospitals.

It's not mandatory for health care and doctors get the vaccine with the courage that.

If you are not getting it -- you need to Wear a mask and I think cover your mouth is exactly important.

This is what happened stars in in Hong Kong at the time to break this and -- rub your -- that's how you going to get the virus in your system.

Obviously talk to a doctor and if the symptoms are early on you may need to get Tamiflu and please.

If you're sick stay home your boss everyone is going to understand because you going to spread to.

Fliers to everybody else if you're really sick stay home where and if you do go to work that makes it worse but how do you know you have the flu to.

Or the common -- that's an excellent question and the symptoms are almost similar.

But it when it comes to flu symptoms everything is more pronounced so you have -- you have body -- -- short of breath you can't -- -- -- -- -- -- When it comes to common cold you have a lot of suggestions you have runny nose you may have fever but it's not as bad bug virus the flu itself.

Really gets you very sick you may -- fevers up to that 103104.

Andy takes over your system now when we talk about her -- barely.

That's what he can really go to becoming pneumonia so you'll want to make sure you break this and -- keep well hydrated and talk to your doctor.

If the if it's not going to improve.

Now when should you go to the hospitals a lot of -- -- -- -- now having problem because -- people are rushing there.

And it's not good because you can contaminate the patients that are there or you can get something new while you're an emergency room so.

Unless you have difficulty breathing that's the first sign if you're short of breath you can't breathe well.

Or you have high -- if you -- -- over 101.

And you've done everything that you can't -- two to break it.

Putting do it did -- cold cloth you know taking Tylenol talking to your doctors if you cannot break the fever that's when you really wanna go -- But before going to the emergency room call your doctor -- find the what you need to do.

How are we doing in terms of the ability to get the flu vaccine there have been some reports of shortages and also -- -- flow.

Down look right now it's still don't have a major shortage we have about a 135 million that we produce this year in anticipation only about 30% of the country are really getting vaccinated.

Close to a 128.

Million vaccines have being given which is for the good.

So we're not going to really make new vaccines because they're already working on the next -- so there.

There is is still about seven to ten million left if you're not vaccinated this is a time this season for flu it's gonna continue to meet march or later.

And you know we still don't know how good this vaccine is and how great -- -- matches we'll find that in April but that's the first he can do get vaccinated.

I -- ask -- question if you get the vaccine you do everything you said you call your doctor only when it's necessary and you hear that this is a deadly flu already people have died.

What is it that they died from mr.

dehydration what do you really have to be the most careful about -- bemoan young.

Jamie in what happens is the virus kind of -- takes over your immune system it's a becomes a multi system.

Failure so it starts with the infection -- -- And any can spread through blood and basically bring you down obviously had a beginning a fit well keeping well hydrated taking a lot of fluid.

Bringing your your -- down if you've -- all of that and if it's you have this in the first 24 hours.

Taking Tamiflu seem to be shortened the period of your.

Your.

This -- symptoms if none of this -- please call your doctor before you go to the emergency room.

Obviously that depends on whether your asthmatic -- -- you have other issues -- -- -- cardiac disease or your doctor can advise you.

To make sure that you are safe but this is a serious problem -- -- get evokes an update tomorrow morning behind a house call could bring you want to develop -- by the hour doctor thank you so much thank you.

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