Health Watch is a Public Service of the Office of News and Publications and is intended to provide general information only and should not replace the advice of a medical professional. You should contact your physician if you have questions about any of these topics.
It’s only the middle of January, so there’s still time to form healthy new habits for the new year. We usually talk about resolutions such as losing weight, eating better, exercising more and quitting smoking, but this week on Health Watch, we’ll suggest some other healthy habits to start.
One thing you should consider is getting a flu shot every year. If you haven’t already had one this year, it’s not too late. Flu season generally lasts until March, and vaccines aren’t in short supply as has happened in recent years. High-risk people should have already been vaccinated, so vaccine is available for people who just want to avoid the flu. Dr. James Luby, an expert in infectious disease at UT Southwestern Medical Center, says the vaccination is a good way to prevent the flu, decrease its severity or avoid complications such as pneumonia. Prime time for being vaccinated is mid-October, so mark that on your calendar for later this year.
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January 2007
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