Healthy Living: Asthma and the flu vaccine
Nearly one out of ten Americans is an asthmatic and with the flu season upon us, this dangerous chronic disease can become critical. Marcie Fraser reports.
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According to the CDC, about 12 percent of Americans get the flu each year and about 25,000 people die. This is largely due to other infections and complications that can occur when you have the flu, particularly pneumonia. The flu vaccine is about 80 percent effective in preventing the flu in healthy people under 65 years of age. But with asthma, any respiratory infection like the flu can affect your lungs, causing inflammation and dangerous narrowing of the airways.
"The most common concern is the triggering of asthma episodes in most cases, it is manageable but other it is quite serious. We do see, on rare occasions, mortality or death from asthma," said Dr. Kallanna Manjunath, Chief Medical Officer.
There are two types of the flu vaccine that exist: one is the traditional shot, the other is the FluMist. The CDC advises that asthmatics avoid the FluMist, which is for people who do not have any chronic lung diseases. Signs you may have the flu include increased shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, or wheezing, coughing up increased amounts of mucus, fever temperature over 101 degrees or chills, increased fatigue or weakness.
If you are asthmatic and do get the flu, call your doctor immediately. You may need to adjust your asthma medication. Take control of your asthma and reduce your risk. Begin by disinfecting your hands frequently and avoid people who may have the flu or a cold.
"The more people around an asthmatic who are immunized with flu vaccine, the better for the person with asthmatic will be exposed with the flu virus. People with asthma need to learn the severity, make sure they have appropriately medication, take control of medicine and take charge of your asthma, know when to start early medication, know when to call your doctor," said Dr. Manjunath.
The American Lung Association offers an electronic flu vaccine clinic locator. Visit www.flucliniclocator.org, enter a zip code and a date and receive information about clinics scheduled in your area.