46 THE QUEENS COURIER • WELLNESS • FEBRUARY 21, 2019 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
wellness
For older adults, it’s not ‘just the fl u’
“I’m not the same person. Th e person
conditions and lead to serious complications,
Take the precaution:
before just kind of took life for granted.
like pneumonia - or sometimes
Get the shot
And now I cherish every moment I have
even death.
Vaccination is the best way to help protect
because I know it can be taken away very
people, including older adults, from
quickly.”
Flu and chronic health
the fl u and help reduce the risk of fl u-related
Lisa Pellerin, a mother and a nurse,
conditions
hospitalization and death. Th at’s
shared these words as she recounted an
According to the CDC, about 70 percent
why the American Lung Association created
experience so devastating to her health
of adults ages 50 to 64 have at least
the MyShot campaign in collaboration
that it changed her entire perspective
one chronic illness. Lisa is among this
with Sanofi Pasteur. Th e campaign
on life. It wasn’t cancer. It wasn’t a heart
group, living with both asthma and diabetes.
helps educate adults 50 years of age and
attack.
All it took was one day for the fl u
older about the potential dangers of fl u
to land her in the hospital. “I just kept getting
and the critical importance of getting a fl u
It was the fl u.
worse. I was in the hospital for three
shot every year.
Surprisingly, the fl u is a source of worry
weeks. Everyone thought I was going to
Th e CDC recommends that people get
for only 8 percent of adults 50 years of age
die,” she said. Lisa continues to struggle
a fl u vaccine by the end of October.
and older, according to a recent survey.
with shortness of breath and a persistent
However, getting vaccinated later can still
And, even if they were to get the fl u, the
cough, but she’s grateful to be alive.
be benefi cial and vaccination continues
majority (80 percent) only saw themselves
Aft er receiving a chronic obstructive
to be off ered throughout fl u season. For
as being at average or below average risk
pulmonary disease (COPD) diagnosis,
adults, it’s important to know that there
for fl u-related complications. For some,
Jim Piette still enjoyed fi shing, hunting
are multiple options depending on your
these misperceptions could be dangerous.
and woodworking - until he got the
age and whether you have one or more
Adults 50 years of age and older are
fl u. “Now, I’m on oxygen 24/7,” he said.
chronic health conditions. A doctor can
more likely than younger age groups to
“I can’t do much without running out
advise which option may be right for each
have a chronic illness, such as asthma or
of air.” Aft er a year and a half, Jim still
individual, taking into consideration age
other lung disease, heart disease or diabetes.
hasn’t been able to resume all his usual
and other factors such as chronic health
Flu can exacerbate symptoms of these
activities.
conditions.
It’s not about one person - it’s
about everyone in your life
Flu vaccination helps protect more
than just the people who receive them -
they help prevent the spread of infl uenza
to their family, friends, colleagues and
communities, and especially those more
vulnerable to the fl u such as infants and
young children and those with weakened
immune systems. JoJo O’Neal’s
bout with the fl u turned into a family
issue, infecting not only JoJo, but her
sister who has COPD, and her niece. “I
started to realize my health decisions
can impact others,” she said. Now, she
does everything she can to help protect
herself and others from the fl u, which
always includes getting her annual fl u
vaccination.
If you or someone you love
is 50 years of age or older, go to
GetMyShot.org to learn more and
speak with your healthcare provider
about flu vaccine options that may be
right for you.
Courtesy BPT
/WWW.QNS.COM
/GetMyShot.org
