{"id":6867,"date":"2023-08-28T20:27:38","date_gmt":"2023-08-28T20:27:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bluekc.com\/blog\/?post_type=well_said&#038;p=6867"},"modified":"2023-08-28T20:38:35","modified_gmt":"2023-08-28T20:38:35","slug":"a-healthier-you-august-2023","status":"publish","type":"well_said","link":"https:\/\/www.bluekc.com\/blog\/well-said\/a-healthier-you-august-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"A Healthier You &#8211; August 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bluekc.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/08\/flu-shot-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6817\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bluekc.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/08\/flu-shot-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.bluekc.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/08\/flu-shot-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.bluekc.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/08\/flu-shot-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bluekc.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/08\/flu-shot-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.bluekc.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/08\/flu-shot-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The flu is sneaky. It can invade your body undetected, mask itself from the immune system, and keep up its charade until \u2026 you feel that tickle in the back of your throat and those body aches that aren\u2019t from yesterday\u2019s workout. Fast forward a few hours and you also may develop: Fever \u2013 Chills \u2013 Cough \u2013 Sore Throat \u2013 Runny or Stuffy Nose \u2013 Headache \u2013 Fatigue \u2013 Vomiting or Diarrhea.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Protect yourself from the flu for $0<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When it comes to the flu, don\u2019t risk it \u2013 get vaccinated! Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City (Blue KC) health plans cover the cost of the vaccine 100% when it\u2019s administered by an in-network provider, such as your primary care provider (PCP) or a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bluekc.com\/consumer\/wtg\/retail-health-clinic\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>retail health clinic<\/strong><\/a>. Blue KC members can find an in-network provider at&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/member.bluekc.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>MyBlueKC.com<\/strong><\/a><strong>&nbsp;&gt; Find Care<\/strong>.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Get to know the enemy<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You may know some of the flu\u2019s personality traits:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It spreads before you have symptoms&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It can come on suddenly&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It infects up to 11% of the U.S. population each year&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Symptoms are significantly reduced by the flu vaccine&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>But here are a few you may not know:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Flu spreads easier than you may think<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember those aerosols we were introduced to during Covid? Turns out, they\u2019re responsible for spreading the flu, too. People with the flu generate infectious, tiny droplets that stay suspended in the air. By simply breathing, not to mention sneezing and coughing, a sick person is spreading the flu.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Flu puts older adults with heart and lung disease at greater risk<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unvaccinated individuals 65 and older with chronic conditions are at a greater risk of flu complications. Conditions include but are not limited to:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Lung disease \u2013 People with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are at a greater risk of being hospitalized with flu complications.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Heart disease \u2013 People with conditions like congestive heart failure may have up to a six-time higher risk of having a heart attack within a week of a confirmed flu infection.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Flu and mucus are like oil and water<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>No one likes to think about mucus. But here\u2019s a game changer. The mucus in your nose \u2013 where the flu virus typically invades \u2013 contains antibodies called Invasive Group A Streptococcal Infections (IgAs), which can protect you from the flu.<sup>1<\/sup>&nbsp;Most effective when it\u2019s wet, mucus is at its healthiest when you\u2019re hydrated. So, drink up this flu season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Flu lingers like a bad perfume<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once the flu virus moves into your house, it\u2019s there to stay for a while. It has a 48-hour life span on hard, nonporous surfaces and a 12-hour life span on surfaces like clothes and tissues. Your best defense: wash or sanitize all surfaces that come in contact with an infected person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Flu shuns vitamin C<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The notion that vitamin C will protect you from the flu is a myth rooted in the 1970s. However, taken in large doses, vitamin C may help reduce the flu\u2019s duration and symptoms. And it can help boost your immune system to fight infections.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Flu likes Fido<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your dog and other pets can catch their own strain of the flu that is species-specific. Although there\u2019s no chance of infection between you and your furry friend, your pet may have symptoms similar to humans \u2013 sneezing, coughing, and fatigue \u2013 so be on alert during flu season.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>It\u2019s prime time for the flu vax<\/strong>&nbsp; September and October are the prime time to get your $0 flu vaccine. Visit your PCP or an in-network retail health clinic today. Visit your member portal at&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/member.bluekc.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>MyBlueKC.com<\/strong><\/a><strong>&nbsp;&gt; Find Care<\/strong> to a find provider near you.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><sup>1<\/sup>Mucus, Our Body\u2019s Silent Defender. UNC Healthcare.&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/healthtalk.unchealthcare.org\/mucus-our-bodys-silent-defender\/\"><strong>https:\/\/healthtalk.unchealthcare.org\/mucus-our-bodys-silent-defender\/<\/strong><\/a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":6817,"template":"","class_list":["post-6867","well_said","type-well_said","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.1.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>A Healthier You - August 2023 - The Blueprint Blog - Blue KC<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"A Healthier You - August 2023 - The Blueprint Blog - Blue KC\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The flu is sneaky. 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