In just a few weeks, flu season will be ramping up leaving many searching for remedies to get back to good health. Along with the viral infection comes many misconceptions.
"The biggest misconception is that the flu shot can cause the flu. The flu shot will not cause the flu because it's a dead virus," Dr. Eric Penniman, a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, said.
Those most at risk are the elderly, young, pregnant or people with chronic diseases.
"It's estimated that 10,000 to 30,000 people die a year from the flu," Dr. Penniman said.
To put those numbers into perspective, say 10,000 people die from the flu in one year, that's more than all the people in the city of Alcoa. If those numbers jump to 30,000 deaths a year that's more than everyone in the city of Oak Ridge.
Your Questions:
We asked if you had any questions on how to avoid getting the flu and the first question was from Morgan asking if it's even worth getting the flu shot this year.
"Morgan, in 23 years in practicing medicine only one year I didn't see the flu shot work very well and that was last year," Dr. Penniman said.
Zoiey asked if you can you avoid the flu if you find out someone you were around now has it?
"If you have a chronic illness like diabetes or asthma, you might want to call your doctor and get some Tamiflu to help prevent catching it," Dr. Penniman said.
Amy said flu shots are unreliable.
"The flu shot is never 100% protective but in the best years it is 70%- 80% protective," Dr. Penniman said.
Lastly, Dr. Penniman addressed whether taking a vitamin C supplement can help avoid the flu at the early stages.
"Most of the the latest research shows vitamin C doesn't help shorten the cold," he said.
Doctor Penniman said besides washing your hands and not being around people who are sick, you can take other steps like taking zinc and Tamilflu to help get you back to good health.
Summit Clinic in North Knoxville is having a flu shot day on October 13, 2018. The first 4,00 patients get free flu shots.