What Steps Are You Taking to Prevent Getting the Flu?

by ABC News U.S. Posted 2013/01/09 22:19:16

Related Topics: Exercise, Healthy, Flu, Steps, Shot

5,068 votes
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	Get a flu shot	1,852 votes	37%
	Wash hands often	849 votes	17%
	Eat healthy	119 votes	2%
	Exercise	64 votes	1%
	Keep your distance from those who are sick	456 votes	9%
	All of the above	1,400 votes	28%
	Other	328 votes	6%

Boston declared a public health emergency Wednesday as flu season struck in earnest and the state reported 18 flu-related deaths so far. The city is working with health care centers to offer free flu vaccines and also hopes to set up places where people can get vaccinated. The city said there had been four flu-related deaths, all elderly residents, since the unofficial start of the flu season Oct. 1.

"The best thing you can do to protect yourself and your family is to get the flu shot," said Boston Mayor Thomas Menino. The city was experiencing its worst flu season since at least 2009, Menino said, with about 700 confirmed cases of the flu, compared with 70 all of last season.

+10

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The Pale Man 2013/01/10 00:59:06

Eat healthy

+11
Healthy eating and weed smoking.
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More polls by ABC News U.S.

MsDianna 2013/01/24 19:58:01

All of the above

try to stay after from others who are sick is one of the most important things. keep your hands clean. watch what you pick up in stores. think about eating in restaurants all the hands that come in contact with your food.

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Imperial Cultist 2013/01/15 14:20:41

Wash hands often

+1
the flu shot isn't really prevention it's more like early cure

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Nika 2013/01/15 14:13:19

All of the above

I do all except the flu shot. I try to eat healthy and make sure I get immune system booster foods/vitamins (like raw garlic/zinc). I always wash hands before eating or after doing anything that could be very germy. I do less of the avoiding sick people and exercising though. Seems to work for me. I haven't gotten very sick in quite a while.

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Kevin1111 2013/01/15 06:56:43

Other

I have a super immune system so I dont worry about it

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ellomotto 2013/01/15 00:23:23

Other

Nothing; I rarely get sick and if I do it usually only lasts a day or two.

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whipnet 2013/01/14 23:26:13

Other

+2
Not injecting myself with the flu strains from last year. (getting a flu shot)

*

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JS 2013/01/14 23:05:02

All of the above

Except flu shot

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MercuryZero (v.2) 2013/01/14 19:47:40

Other

...Not really doing anything.

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Sarah Alexander 2013/01/14 13:22:17

All of the above

All the above except the flu shot, I've been thinking about getting one, but probably won't.

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nightcrawler2005 2013/01/14 10:41:31

Other

+1
Not a thing. I had a good dose of the flu months ago so I figure my immune system is up to snuff right now.

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MrsCasao 2013/01/14 07:35:39

All of the above

+2
People think I'm odd but I always have hand sanitizer with me! I use it when I get a cart, leave the store, use the ATM, put gas, and anything else where I touch something I know people have touched! You can never have enough hand sanitizer!

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KCMamabear 2013/01/14 04:48:28

Other

+2
Why would I try to prevent it? By allowing myself to be exposed, I build antibodies to it. When I build those antibodies, my immune system strengthens and I pass that strengthened immunity to my children contributing to a stronger species. By trying to protect ourselves from viruses and bacteria, we are weakening our species. I am the exact opposite of a "germophobe". I invite it. Bring it on! I haven't been sick in over 22 years other than the annual spring sniffle that lasts one day.

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Grammar... to KCMamabear 2013/01/15 00:03:11

+1
Eating fresh, raw, local honey might very well take care of that sniffle, too... cuz it might be a slight allergy if it comes on in spring when everything's blooming. It's pretty natural to have. A spoon of honey every day will ensure any allergies are minimized or eliminated completely.
...plus, it's just plain good!
;-)

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ssmithix 2013/01/14 03:53:38

Other

+1
All of the above except the flu shot. Honestly, no one in my area has had the flu this season. Must be an east coast thing

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Grammar... to ssmithix 2013/01/15 00:05:47 (edited)

Boy, I don't know if this thing over here is the flu or what, but it's really nasty. It comes on in the lungs & causes a really deep cough that lasts about four or five weeks before it slowly subsides. The stuffy nose comes on about 10 days or so after the cough starts. It's really weird.
Everyone's getting it.
Maybe it's bacterial, but my friends who've had the flu shot haven't gotten it, so I don't know, could be viral.

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DDogbreath 2013/01/14 02:05:08 (edited)

Other

+4
All of the above EXCEPT get a flu shot!

The only time I ever got a flu shot a little over a week later I had the worst flu of all time. By week two it had turned into double pneumonia. No thank you I will never get another as long as I live.

I will probably end up living a hell of a lot longer than those of you that succumb to this "scam".

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DeeB 2013/01/14 01:20:22

Eat healthy

+2
Eat healthy and avoid sick people or the ones that got the flu shot. I will never get a vaccine, can't everyone see that is what they are pushing?!! I'll also be taking Colloidal Silver, shh, they don't want you to know about that!

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Grammar... to DeeB 2013/01/15 00:11:52

+1
Be careful not to turn grey.

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DeeB to Grammar... 2013/01/15 00:20:29

I just heard about someone that has, I have heard of the blue man but the gray one is news to me. I don't take it often enough to turn gray though. If I start to have symptoms I will nip the flu in the bud and stop taking it. Thanks for the advice!

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Grammar... to DeeB 2013/01/15 00:36:24

+1
I think it's okay to use it like antibiotics... infrequently at most.
I think they don't know the dose that causes one to turn grey, but it sure as hell does!

Just a tip from one alternative medicine user to another.

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DeeB to Grammar... 2013/01/15 01:17:43

+1
I am very careful with medicine, even when it is alternative! I'm a big believer in everything in moderation! Thanks again!

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whateverbabynevermind 2013/01/13 23:22:29

Other

Well, I've been going outside in subzero temperatures with wet hair and a sheer cardigan, having absolutely no personal boundaries and drinking lots of iced tea. Oh, and going skiing in sweatpants and a shirt. Haven't been sick once.

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KCMamabear to whateve... 2013/01/14 04:34:20

It's an old wives tale that going outside in the cold with wet hair or without being bundled up will make you sick. Only if you get hypothermia, maybe. Like you, I have never had a flu shot, never will, I rarely dress for our extremely cold weather and I never get sicker than a sniffle for a day.

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whateve... to KCMamabear 2013/01/14 21:47:14

Well, it's a bit more of biology, but have fun with that.

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Postmas... to whateve... 2013/01/15 02:54:10

Because a sickness is a virus, therefore you cannot get it from the cold. It must be transfered conventional methods; person to person, shiny object to person.
However you could end up with frost bite or hypothermia.

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Lee 2013/01/13 18:33:36

Other

+2
Avoiding all other human beings at all costs.

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Redfan45x 2013/01/13 16:27:51

Other

Not get a flue shot.

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Roblem BN-0 2013/01/13 16:02:30

Other

+2

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Jason - JAG 2013/01/13 13:49:00

Get a flu shot

Actually all of the above.

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Ichiban Otousan 2013/01/13 13:20:38

Get a flu shot

damn, should have said all of the above.

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Sweet-N-Sour 2013/01/13 05:22:52

Other

+5
Just go on with life as normal. You know, you will either get it or you won't. It's just the flu, stop freaking out.

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GlennDiamant 2013/01/13 04:05:09

Get a flu shot

I get flu shots at the start of every autumn.

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Rob 2013/01/13 01:47:12

All of the above

+1
I didn't get a shot though. They don't seem to work very well.

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rereblue 2013/01/13 00:58:17

All of the above

+1
Except the Flu Shot. Never got it. May or may not, still. But I've been doing pretty good.

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nickthestick 2013/01/12 20:04:13

Other

+4
i dont believe in flu shots

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Anna to nickthe... 2013/01/13 03:07:19

+1
Me either.

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Crische 2013/01/12 16:38:39

Exercise

+1
Set that core on fire and burn out the toxins. Purge yoself. Take full hold of your body as to not let it be shared by other organisms.

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ttfndude 2013/01/12 16:11:00

All of the above

+4
and I take zinc and vitamin c when I am onstage to give me a little extra help

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Pete 2013/01/12 16:00:45

Eat healthy

+3
Eat healthy, get enough sleep. Take vitamins C and D daily. Wash hands often, etc....

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mikeeonly 2013/01/12 15:13:11

All of the above

+1
and drinking heavily, just kidding

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