Health

Feb. 2025

Flu and Stomach Bugs Are Spreading Fast—Are You Prepared?

Flu season is here, and with cases rising across the country, it’s more important than ever to take steps to protect yourself and your loved ones. The flu can spread easily, causing mild to severe illness and, in some cases, serious complications.

Dr. Priya Soni, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Cedars-Sinai Guerin Children’s Health Center in Los Angeles, shares insights on what to expect this flu season and how to stay healthy amid circulating viruses.

What Type of Flu Activity Are Doctors Seeing This Year, and What Are the Symptoms?

Flu season typically runs from October through March, with peak activity occurring in January and February. This year’s flu activity is similar to last season, with cases steadily increasing across the country. Health officials are monitoring trends closely, especially as flu cases often surge alongside other respiratory illnesses like COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

The flu can strike suddenly, leaving people feeling exhausted and unwell for days. Symptoms of the flu include:

High fever
Chills
Body aches
Headache
Fatigue
Nasal congestion
Sore throat

While many of these symptoms overlap with other respiratory viruses, the flu is known for its rapid onset and intense body aches that often make people feel significantly worse compared to a common cold.

Who Is at Higher Risk for Severe Flu Complications?

Certain groups of people are more vulnerable to severe flu complications, including:

Young children, especially those under 5 years old
Pregnant women
Older adults, particularly those over 65
Individuals with weakened immune systems
People with chronic health conditions such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease, or lung disease

For these individuals, the flu can lead to serious complications such as pneumonia, hospitalization, and even death, making preventive measures crucial.

When Should You See a Doctor for the Flu?

For most people, the flu can be managed at home with rest, fluids, and over-the-counter medications to ease symptoms. However, some cases require medical attention, especially if symptoms worsen or do not improve.

Seek medical care if you experience any of the following:

A fever lasting more than three to five days (This could indicate a secondary infection.)
Worsening cough or shortness of breath (This may be a sign of pneumonia.)
Signs of dehydration (Symptoms include dizziness, dry mouth, or decreased urination.)
A new fever after initial recovery (This could signal a bacterial infection, such as sinusitis or pneumonia.)

For high-risk individuals, antiviral medications like Tamiflu or Relenza may be prescribed to reduce the severity and duration of the illness. These medications work best when taken within the first 48 hours of symptoms, so early medical evaluation is essential.

Is It Too Late to Get the Flu Vaccine?

Absolutely not! It’s never too late to get vaccinated.

“The flu vaccine reduces the severity of illness and lowers the risk of complications, especially for high-risk individuals such as young children, pregnant women, the elderly, and those with chronic medical conditions,” Soni said in a news release.

Each year’s flu vaccine is designed to target the most common strains circulating at the time. While no vaccine is 100% effective, getting vaccinated can still lessen the severity of the illness and significantly reduce the risk of hospitalization.

Even if you’ve already had the flu this season, getting the flu shot can still be beneficial, as multiple strains of influenza circulate throughout the winter.

What Is Norovirus, and How Is It Spreading?

Aside from the flu, norovirus is another major concern during the winter months. Often called the “stomach flu” (though it’s not actually related to influenza), norovirus is a highly contagious virus that causes:

Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Stomach cramps
Occasionally, a low-grade fever

Norovirus spreads through contaminated food, water, surfaces, and close contact with infected individuals. It is one of the leading causes of foodborne illness and outbreaks frequently occur in schools, nursing homes, cruise ships, and other crowded environments.

Unlike the flu, norovirus symptoms usually appear 12 to 48 hours after exposure and resolve within one to three days. However, dehydration can be a concern, especially for young children and older adults.

What Can People Do to Stay Healthy During Virus Season?

To protect yourself from flu, norovirus, and other seasonal viruses, consider taking the following precautions:

Wash Your Hands Frequently – Proper hand hygiene is one of the best ways to prevent infection. Use soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the restroom, before eating, and after being in public places.
Avoid Touching Your Face – Viruses can enter the body through the eyes, nose, and mouth. Try to avoid touching your face, especially when out in public.
Stay Home When Sick – If you’re experiencing symptoms of the flu or norovirus, stay home to prevent spreading the illness to others.
Disinfect Frequently-Touched Surfaces – Norovirus and flu viruses can linger on surfaces, so disinfect high-touch areas like doorknobs, countertops, and shared electronics.
Wear a Mask in High-Risk Settings – “Wearing a mask is of utmost importance … to prevent the spread of respiratory infections in this critical time period during the winter,” Soni said. This is particularly helpful in crowded indoor spaces and for individuals at high risk of complications.
Cover Coughs and Sneezes – Use a tissue or your elbow to cover sneezes and coughs to prevent spreading germs.
Get Vaccinated – The flu vaccine remains the best defense against severe influenza-related complications. While it may not prevent the flu entirely, it reduces the risk of hospitalization and death.
Stay Hydrated and Eat a Healthy Diet – Keeping your immune system strong with a balanced diet, plenty of water, and adequate sleep can help your body fight off infections more effectively.

Final Thoughts

With flu season in full swing and norovirus outbreaks on the rise, taking preventative measures is more important than ever. Whether through getting vaccinated, practicing good hygiene, or staying mindful of symptoms, small actions can make a big difference in protecting yourself and those around you.

If you or a loved one develop severe flu symptoms, don’t hesitate to seek medical care, especially if you’re in a high-risk group.

For more information on flu treatment and prevention, visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.

10 Black Parenting Perspectives on ADHD

It might be difficult for parents with neurodiverse children to leap into homeschooling.

Many U.S. public schools aren’t equipped to handle children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, which can lead to victimization, emotional distress, and academic failure.

However, homeschooling has many downsides, including social isolation. The question then becomes how families decide between homeschooling and institutional education.

Schools Are Not Equipped To Teach Kids With ADHD

Users in the community, including special education support workers with children who have autism and ADHD, agree that most schools are not equipped to teach children with the disorder.

With absolute certainty, many people agree that our educational system is not set up to provide these kids with the help, information, and socializing they require.

Bullying Is A Big Problem In Schools

Some older adults reflect on their own school days and are shocked to recall the extent to which students who were different from them were victimized by bullies. “I recall how other students handled youngsters like him while I was in school. That crushes my heart to think of it happening to my son,” says one anxious parent.

When Kids Need Extra Help, They’re Left Behind In Schools

One person who was homeschooled from fifth grade through graduation from high school said that it was beneficial to their development.

They say things like, “When I was in a regular school, I was either really excellent at a topic or horrible at it,” and that this led to them being left behind in subjects they didn’t care for.

They explain, “That was a problem for me, but homeschooling helped since I was able to move at my own speed.”

Homeschooling Helps Kids With ADHD Go At Their Own Pace

Traditional schools are quite organized, requiring students to shift from topic to subject at the school’s speed rather than the child’s.

A sixth-grader whose parents decided to homeschool them shares their experience here. “I could choose my own schedule and speed,” she said. She went on to explain how her instructors at conventional schools mistook her attention deficit hyperactivity disorder for being “lazy and too busy thinking.”

Schools Punish Kids Instead Of Helping Them

One angry dad revealed his experience sending their ADHD son to first grade, and the school treated him terribly. Their youngster was “punished” by having to eat alone at lunch and losing recess because the instructor was a bully.

They were always punishing him for stuff he couldn’t help. At age fourteen, he finally confesses that the scars from his first two years of school are still present.

Homeschooling Isn’t Just School At Home

When deciding to homeschool your child, it might be helpful to use methods that are different from those used in a conventional classroom. Do not confuse homeschooling with “school at home.” Don’t try to push them into your idea of what a school should be like.

That includes letting kids play with LEGOs during story time, giving them plenty of pauses, and changing tactics if they are having trouble grasping the material.

3 Everyday Microaggressions That Could Be Harming Your Health

The words “calm down” are worse than unhelpful—they can actually increase blood pressure among new mothers of color, a study has found.

Gender-based racism, expressed through microaggressions, significantly increased blood pressure in new mothers compared to women not subjected to such comments, researchers reported in a study published January 9 in the journal Hypertension. These effects were even more pronounced among women living in areas with high levels of structural racism.

“It is well-known that Black, Hispanic, and South Asian women experience microaggressions during health care. It is not as well known whether these microaggressions may have an association with higher blood pressure,” said lead researcher Teresa Janevic, an associate professor of epidemiology at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health in New York, in a news release.

For the study, researchers asked nearly 400 women of color who gave birth at four hospitals in Philadelphia and New York City about the microaggressions they faced during their care. The women ranged in age from 16 to 46, with about 43 percent between 20 and 29.

Types of Microaggressions Reported
Microaggressions took various forms, including:

Invalidation: Comments like “Calm down” or “You’re overreacting,” dismissing the woman’s feelings or concerns.
Stereotyping: Accusations such as “You’re angry” when speaking assertively or confidently.
Disrespect: Instances where women felt dismissed, ignored, or treated rudely by medical staff.
Nearly two in five women (38 percent) reported at least one instance of microaggression during their pregnancy care. Those who experienced one or more microaggressions had average systolic blood pressure readings 2.12 points higher and diastolic readings 1.43 points higher. Systolic blood pressure measures the pressure in arteries during a heartbeat, while diastolic measures the pressure between heartbeats.

Women living in areas with more structural racism had even greater differences in blood pressure: systolic readings were 7.55 points higher and diastolic readings were 6.03 points higher.

“For many people, this can make the difference between needing blood pressure-lowering medications or not,” said Dr. Natalie Cameron, an instructor in preventive medicine at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, who was not involved in the study.

Tips for Facing Microaggressions
While structural and systemic changes are needed to address the root causes of racism and sexism in healthcare, you can adopt strategies to protect your well-being in the face of microaggressions:

Document Experiences: Keep a record of incidents, noting dates, times, and details. This documentation can be valuable if the need arises to address concerns with healthcare providers or institutions.
Seek Support: Share experiences with trusted friends, family, or support groups. Connecting with others who have faced similar challenges can offer emotional relief and practical advice.
Advocate for Yourself: Use clear, assertive communication to express concerns and ensure that your needs are met. Phrases like, “I need you to listen to my concerns” can help redirect dismissive behavior.
Choose Allies in Care: Whenever possible, work with healthcare providers or patient advocates who are culturally sensitive and understand the unique challenges faced by women of color.
Prioritize Self-Care: Engage in activities that reduce stress and promote relaxation, such as mindfulness, yoga, or other forms of exercise.

Looking Ahead
Future research is needed to better explore how racism influences blood pressure, as well as its effects on the health of mothers and their infants. Researchers stress the long-term impact that racism and microaggressions can have on overall health.

“This work serves as a reminder of the long-term impact that racism can have on one’s overall health,” said senior researcher Dr. Lisa Levine, director of the Pregnancy and Heart Disease Program at the University of Pennsylvania. “The magnitude of these types of physiologic changes may become cumulative over time and lead to the inequities we see in many health outcomes.”

By highlighting the prevalence and impact of microaggressions, the study underscores the urgency of creating equitable healthcare environments where all women feel respected and supported.

Six Foods to Help Reduce Anxiety

*A nutritional psychiatrist emphasizes the strong connection between gut health and anxiety, highlighting how a healthy diet can reduce stress and inflammation.

Chronic anxiety, unlike short-term stress, can harm overall well-being. Foods rich in fiber, nutrients, and healthy fats—such as berries, spices, and whole foods—support a balanced gut microbiome, reducing inflammation linked to stress.

Avoiding processed snacks and sugary drinks further helps maintain calmness and focus, demonstrating the power of nutrition in easing anxiety over time.

Below are six foods to help reduce anxiety via Prevention.com:

Prebiotic fiber

Veggies are rich in prebiotic fibers that feed and help maintain an abundance of healthy bacteria in the gut; that’s associated with reduced neuroinflammation and stress. Prebiotic foods include asparagus, garlic, onions, leafy greens, artichokes, legumes, mushrooms, and apples.

Berries

Loaded with fiber, antioxidants, and vitamins, berries support a healthy microbiome and can reduce inflammation. Blueberries specifically contain one of the highest concentrations of anxiety-reducing anthocyanin, a powerful antioxidant that supports brain health by fighting off oxidative stress.

Omega-3 fatty acids

These are an incredibly powerful tool in reducing inflammation in the gut and brain. They can be found abundantly in wild caught fish like salmon, anchovies, tuna, mackerel, and sardines, as well as in nuts and seeds like walnuts and chia seeds. Omega-3 consumption is associated with reduced anxiety, brain fog and cognitive decline, as well as improved mood.

Spices

Spices like turmeric (with black pepper to make it more available to your brain and body), cinnamon, saffron, rosemary, and ginger not only boost the flavor and color of our meals, but are also rich in antioxidants, micronutrients and anti-inflammatory compounds for improved mental fitness.

Fermented foods

A healthy microbiome is dependent on a healthy presence of good bacteria in the gut and an effective way to replenish these populations of good bacteria is through eating fermented foods. Naturally rich in live cultures, foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir, miso, and plain yogurts are excellent for mental fitness. Consuming fermented foods in conjunction with the above-mentioned fiber rich veggies is key for maintaining a healthy microbiome and resisting chronic inflammation.