Achoo! Flu season is fast approaching us. While many of us experience it every year, there are still aspects of the illness that remain a mystery. Here are the top 5 questions people have about the flu:

• How is it different from a cold?

While both are respiratory illnesses, they’re caused by different viruses and they infect different parts of the body; while a cold impacts just the nose and throat, a flu impacts the bronchial tubes, the throat, the nose and the lungs.

• Should I get a flu shot?

The short answer is yes; while flu shots won’t guarantee you won’t contract the virus (it reduces your chances by 70 to 90 percent) it is still your best bet in avoiding this sickness. Some strains of the flu are bad enough that they cause death; the more you can do to avoid contracting the flu, the better.

• How do I know when I have the flu?

Some of the symptoms include body aches, chills, headache, sore throat, cough, fever and fatigue. The coughs that the flu causes irritate your bronchial tube, but they shouldn’t cause you to cough up any gunk.

• How can I prevent it?

The flu shot is your best method to prevent the flu; those who are infected often have no symptoms for the first 24 to 72 hours, yet they are still contagious during that time, so you can catch it even if you avoid sick people! Otherwise, wash your hands frequently, stay away from crowds when there is a flu outbreak in your area and don’t touch your eyes, nose or mouth.

• When should I visit the doctor?

As we mentioned earlier, the flu virus can be deadly. Don’t hesitate to see the doctor if your symptoms are severe, aren’t improving after a week or you have a fever for more than 3 days. If you have difficulty breathing, have trouble keeping foods/liquids down or have trouble swallowing, you should also see the doctor.

We encourage everyone to stay healthy during the flu season. For more ways to stay healthy, visit our online catalog.

In this day and age, everyone is well-aware of the ill effects of smoking. However, it can be a hard habit to kick, especially when those cravings kick in! Here are a few ways you can kick back and fight those cigarette cravings when they happen:

• Keep your hands busy

This could mean keeping a pen handy, a stress ball nearby or a rubber band around your wrist that you can twist around your fingers… this will help you kick the urge to hold a cigarette in your hand.

• Just keep chewing

Get something such as peppermint gum or healthy snacks like celery, carrots or nuts. Keeping your mouth busy will keep you from wanting to put a cigarette in it.

• Drink a tall glass of water

Instead of walking to the normal destination you visit for a cigarette, walk to the sink and pour a big glass of water. Then drink it slowly. This will keep your mouth, throat and body engaged in doing something other than reaching for a cigarette.

• Plan for triggers

What was it that normally caused you to smoke? Was it during 15-minute breaks at work? Use those times to go for a short walk around the premises instead. Was it during parties, while driving to work, or relaxing at the end of the day? Make a plan to ensure that these do not lead to a relapse.

• Don’t have “just one.”

It’s really tempting to have a single cigarette just to kill the craving, but this often leads to people picking the habit up all over again.

The American Cancer Association has designated the third Thursday of November as the Great American Smokeout—when smokers finally stop for good. Why not use this entire month to work on kicking the habit? We’re all about helping you stay healthy—so, go to the resource center on our website and find more helpful health tips.