Protect your health for the holidays with a flu shot

(BPT) – Holidays can bring cheer, stress … or a little (or a lot) of both. One way to help ensure more cheer and less stress is to stay healthy. That’s why CDC recommends staying up to date on your vaccines to help protect against respiratory illnesses, including flu. Getting an annual flu shot can reduce your risk of getting flu and make your symptoms milder if you do get sick.A flu shot is especially important for children and adults with certain chronic medical conditions — such as asthma, heart disease, diabetes, or history of stroke — who are at higher risk of developing serious flu-related complications. During the 2023-2024 flu season, about 90% of people hospitalized with flu had at least one chronic medical condition. Flu can make certain pre-existing chronic medical conditions worse, even if they are well-managed. And although people with chronic conditions are at a higher risk of serious flu outcomes, they are historically under-vaccinated.How does having a chronic medical condition increase your risk from flu? Find out more and learn why it’s important to protect your health (and holiday cheer!) with a flu vaccine:Flu and people with asthmaPeople with asthma are at higher risk of developing flu-related complications. Flu can trigger asthma and worsen asthma symptoms by causing further inflammation of the airways and lungs. People with asthma are more likely to develop pneumonia after getting sick with flu than people who do not have asthma.Flu and people with heart disease or a history of strokeIn past flu seasons, about half of adults hospitalized with flu had heart disease. Studies have shown that flu illness is associated with an increase in heart attacks and strokes. Additionally, people with heart disease and those who have had a stroke are at higher risk of developing serious flu complications.Flu and people with diabetesFlu can make managing diabetes more complicated by making it harder to control blood sugar levels. About 30% of adults hospitalized with flu during recent seasons reported having diabetes.Protect yourself against flu today.A flu vaccine is the best way to protect against flu and can help take flu illness from wild to mild. Now is a great time to get vaccinated; flu most commonly peaks in February and significant activity can continue into May. Learn more about flu and chronic conditions and speak with your health care provider to find out the best way to protect yourself against flu.