Four More Ways to Stay
Well This Winter

Even more ways to Stay Well This Winter

1. Use Cutting-Edge Immunization
For the needle-phobic, there's a new virus-nuking option that may be even better than the shot: the over-the-counter nasal spray Flu Mist. One puff in the nostrils daily and it works just as well as the shot, if not better, says William Schaffner, M.D., professor and chair of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville. One recent study found that children who got the spray were half as likely to get the flu as those who got the shot. The spray protects against more strains, Dr. Schaffner says.

If you'd rather just dose yourself once, get one of the 100 million flu shots available this year. The vaccine is 70% to 90% effective in healthy adults, Dr. Schaffner says. Even if you do end up with the flu, the serum helps prevent complications, like pneumonia. Plus, the vaccinated are less likely to infect others--making the shot the choice for those with families. This October nurses will be administering shots at supermarkets, shopping malls, and pharmacies nationwide for $25 (or $10 with insurance). Log on to Find a Flu Shot for a location near you.

If you do get sick, Tamiflu is a good defensive measure. This tough prescription drug attacks both types of influenza viruses, A and B, by stopping their cell-to-cell spread inside the body. Tamiflu works best if taken within 48 hours of becoming sick, so the second you feel your first symptom (fever, headache, body ache), skip the Kleenex and Halls and go for this instead.

IMMUNITY BOOSTER: Physically or mentally challenging yourself for 45 minutes before you get a flu shot can produce more antibodies that will enhance the vaccine's strength, according to a study in Brain, Behavior, and Immunity. So schedule your workout before your doctor's appointment, or take today's Sudoku puzzle with you to work on in the waiting room.

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