Tips To Stay Healthy Amid Respiratory Illness Surge In The United States

People walk past a sign recommending face masks in a mall in New York, the United States, on Dec. 7, ... [+] 2022. The United States is experiencing surge in respiratory illnesses including COVID 19, flu and respiratory syncytial virus RSV, worsening the strain on hospitals. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua via Getty Images) Respiratory illnesses are surging in many states across the United States, due mainly to Covid 19, RSV and the flu.

Covid 19 is the leading cause of respiratory illness in America, with emergency room visits up by 12% and hospitalizations up by 17%, according to reports from the American Red Cross . During this flu season alone, there have been more than seven million Americans sick with the flu, with at least 4,500 that have died from it.

Furthermore, RSV continues to be a cause of hospitalization among young children and older adults. Given the rise in respiratory illnesses, below are some tips to keep yourself and your loved ones safe during the winter months. Get Vaccinated Vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent and mitigate severe illness, hospitalization and death from the triple threat of respiratory illness upsurge in America.

Globally, the Covid 19 vaccines saved more than 14 million lives in one year alone, according to data from the Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health . Despite being available since September of 2023, only one in five Americans have received the updated Covid 19 vaccine, per reports from Kaiser Family Foundation .

Individuals aged six months and older are eligible to get both the Covid 19 and flu vaccines. In addition, RSV vaccines are now available for adults aged 60 years and older, as well as pregnant females in their third trimester. Stay At Home If You Are Sick The three common respiratory illnesses all present with similar symptoms and are difficult to discern without testing.

Patients typically have a fever, sore throat, runny nose and a cough. When these symptoms are present, staying home to rest can help prevent spreading the infection to others. Of course, if symptoms worsen to the point where it is difficult to breathe, one should seek immediate medical attention and go to the emergency room.

Cover Coughs And Sneezes With a Tissue Paper The CDC recommends covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue paper as opposed to one’s hands. Hands can act as a reservoir for virus particles to infect others when coming in contact with friends and loved ones. This principle is true for Covid 19, RSV and the flu.

Wash Hands Frequently Washing your hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds can significantly mitigate the risk of getting sick and spreading illness to others, according to the CDC . Although handwashing has been taught to many of us since grade school, actually cleaning our hands for a span of 20 seconds can be challenging.

Handwashing with soap can help prevent germs from spreading to others, since unwashed hands can potentially transmit germs to foods during preparation that others may consume. Germs from unwashed hands can also be transferred to objects such as door knobs that can then act as a nidus to infect other individuals.

Consider Masking At Appropriate Times Wearing a mask can add an additional layer of protection in helping prevent the spread of disease, according to the World Health Organization . This is especially true when going to densely populated areas, as masks can reduce the amounts of infected particles that are inhaled or exhaled.

In addition, wearing a mask can help prevent the transmission of disease to those that have weakened immune systems, such as the elderly with chronic conditions such as lung disease or heart disease. With continued vigilance and care, these simple tips can help keep you and your loved ones safe as respiratory illnesses continue to spread across the United States..