It’s already November, and the political campaigning is thankfully over (you can only take so much!), but that’s not the case for this year’s flu season. In fact, flu season seems to have arrived early. Generally, the risk for flu increases noticeably in December, and the heaviest activity is in January and February.
Flu is a particular concern for older adults because, while the flu was once a nasty inconvenience, now that we are older, it can have serious health implications. It is estimated that between 70%-85% of seasonal flu-related deaths and 50%-70% of seasonal flu-related hospitalizations have occurred in people 65 years and older.
So what symptoms should I look for?
Common flu symptoms include fever or feeling feverish/chills, cough, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headache, and significant tiredness and fatigue.
But that also sounds like a common cold. Is there a way to tell the difference?
Well, it is often hard. The Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) “Cold Versus Flu” guidance says symptoms alone can’t reliably distinguish the two, and only testing can confirm influenza.
However, a useful rule of thumb is how suddenly and strongly the illness hits you.
If you gradually develop a scratchy throat, stuffy or runny nose, sneezing, and perhaps a cough, but otherwise don’t feel terribly sick, it’s probably a cold.
Now, if you feel reasonably well and then become sick fairly abruptly, with pronounced tiredness, aches, headache, chills, cough, or fever, it suggests the flu. In addition, flu symptoms are generally more intense than cold symptoms.
Even though we think we aren’t getting older, our immune systems are, which makes the flu and even a cold dangerous for older adults. So to protect yourself, don’t forget what was drilled into our heads during COVID: wash your hands frequently, try not to touch your eyes, nose, and mouth, avoid close contact with people who are sick, and consider a mask in higher-risk situations.
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Hopefully you have already had your flu shot, and if not, there is plenty of flu season left. And no, you cannot get the flu from a flu shot — I promise!
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We are just starting the month of November, but the Columbia Gorge AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is already preparing for the 2027 tax season. They have a cadre of dedicated volunteers, but they need more: Tax Counselors who prepare and file the tax returns, Client Facilitators who greet taxpayers and organize their paperwork, and Bilingual Interpreters.
Virtual and video training begins this month through December, with in-person sessions in January.
AARP Tax Aide is a vital program assisting hundreds of people in the Gorge, and you can be a part of it. Sign up to volunteer by completing the AARP Tax-Aide Volunteer Application at www.aarp.org/volunteer/programs/tax-aide/.
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Brain Tease: Do we really need vowels? Think of all the paper we could save by not printing those five vowels, and maybe Y. So, see if you can decipher these sentences with the vowels removed?
1. My dg thnks th mlmn s hs bst frnd.
2. Th cff ws s strng t wlkd ff by tslf.
3. Grwng ld s mndtry, bt grwng p s ptnl.
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The name of the NBC comedy spy television series starring Don Adams as Agent 86 and Barbara Feldon as Agent 99 was “Get Smart.” I received correct answers from Doug Nelson, Donna Mollet, Judy Kiser, Dave Lutgens, Shelley Hinatsu, Lana Tepfer, David Liberty, Bruce Johnson, Stephen Woolpert, Nancy Higgins, Sam Bilyeu, and Keith and Marlene Clymer, who are this week’s winners of a quilt raffle ticket.
And last week, while answering the fill-in-the-blank questions on The Match Game, I missed Rhonda Spies.
Watching the election news reminds me of the era when there were only three national nightly television news programs: Huntley and Brinkley on NBC, Peter Jennings on ABC, and this broadcast journalist on CBS.
For this week’s “Remember When” question, who served as anchorman for the CBS Evening News from 1962-1981 and was often cited as “the most trusted man in America?” Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at 541-980-4645, or send it with an episode of “The Twentieth Century” (1957-1970), a documentary series about major historical events and figures.
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Well, it’s been another week, trying to make all the figures add up. Until we meet again, when you get the blues, there are always brighter colors behind the clouds.
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“They say never put all your eggs in one basket. I tried using twelve baskets, but now I need a bigger grocery cart.”
— Anonymous
1. My dog thinks the mailman is his best friend.
2. The coffee was so strong it walked off by itself.
3. Growing old is mandatory, but growing up is optional.
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