Too late for flu shot?
Absolutely not! If you haven't gotten one last fall, you should get it today; flu season lasts from fall to spring but flu activity peaks in early spring. What does flu shot have to do with mental health? Well, not a whole lot on the surface, unless you consider that it can save a headache related to expenses related to health care costs due to doctor visits and medication AND save you time lost from sick leave at work. Here are some questions I hear often from patients: - flu, or influenza, is a respiratory illness. Flu shot does not protect you against "stomach flu", or gastroenteritis, which is a common misconception, but rather against high fever, headaches, congestion and major fatigue that puts you to bed for several days. - does the flu shot hurt? A little, it IS an injection, folks. You arm may be mildly sore afterwards. But it hurts a lot less than you wallet if you DO get influenza. - is it expensive? Typically your insurance covers it, or you pay