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Fast-spreading flu: What to do if you become sick

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    Advice from Dr. Ernest Patti

  • Duration 3:05
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New York -- declaring peace.

Health emergency -- thousands of people come down with the flu the order came just one day after federal health officials declared the virus had reached.

Epidemic proportions in this country so why isn't important -- go to hospital.

And how can the flu shot help you joining us -- the director of emergency department.

The same part of a hospital in New York doctor Ernest -- doctor thanks for joining us thanks -- what is it what's that the distinction between.

An emergency and non emergency.

-- really most people who have normal immune systems can stay home with it's the flu or flu like illness.

The people that need to worry are the ones who have asthma can or emphysema diabetes and diseases that decrease their immune system right or put them at higher risk.

What do they have to look for if they have running a high fever that's not responding to Tylenol Motrin if they have shortness of breath in camp -- Or -- they have a prolonged illness meaning they've tried the symptomatic treatment at home 234 days.

And they're not getting better actually feeling worse -- -- show signs of dehydration those patients should be -- to be -- department not just a normal person who gets the flow.

So New York has declared this an emergency what does that mean.

Well one of the one of the important things that we need to look at with this emergency is in the good thing is the governor has decided to allow pharmacists to give.

Allow them to -- flu vaccines to.

Younger children infants and children six months and older in the past pharmacists like you want your local CBS -- you have to be over eighteen to get flu vaccine line.

Well because pharmacists were allowed to give it to anyone younger than eighteen.

And the majority of people who give them at the drugstores and outside locations or pharmacists also other allied health care providers.

So the good thing is now we have a larger cadre of health care professionals who can give the vaccine.

And that's important because it's never too late to get the vaccine the flu season peaks January February.

And it tails until March and April you -- and further.

So right now if you don't have a vaccine should definitely get out there and get it takes about two weeks for the immunity to build up full potency.

That's definitely good tool to use and battling flu would you recommend your patient staying out of certain public areas is that we be concerned about one on airplanes for example the subway.

Most definitely anywhere -- -- high concentration of other people.

-- summer coughing this flew back virus gets spread like crazy one sneeze one cough on hand spread to a doorknob things like that.

So I would recommend to limit your exposure out on the public definitely.

And that's why I think this flu flu epidemic it's sort -- it started right before the holidays and people were traveling or.

Congregating at parties and gatherings and what can you do to boost your immune system.

A lot of things you can do to boost your immune system number one you need to rest eat nutritious foods exercise.

Wash your hands frequently.

That's what we have to use public transportation in Europe public court you know within a gathering people.

You need to definitely.

Increase -- intake of fruits and vegetables.

Exercise is always an immunity booster these are things that we forget around the holiday period -- was so stressed -- and you need to get.

Adequate rest and that means turn off the computer in the Smartphones at night when you go to bed.

And actually sleep.

That's good advice.

In any season yes doctor thank you very much thanks -- -- veteran.

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