10 Ways to Try and Swerve the Flu This Autumn
Influenza, a highly contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses, can wreak havoc on communities, especially during the fall season. Its transmission through coughs or sneezes, along with its ability to survive on surfaces, underscores the critical importance of proactive measures to curb its spread. Vaccinations are pivotal, reducing the risk of illness by up to 60% among the population when flu viruses are well-matched with the vaccine.
To avoid the classic flu symptoms of fever, cough, sore throat, muscle or body aches and tiredness take a look at these 10 proactive steps to evade the flu.
Learn more about common treatments
Tamiflu
1. Eat well
The cold weather can make us want to comfort eat, especially processed junk food. Try to avoid fatty, unhealthy food and opt for lots of fruit and veg (at least 5 pieces a day) packed with healthy vitamins to give your body a well-deserved boost.
Free available NHS treatments
Phenoxymethylpenicillin
Erythromycin stearate
Erythromycin ethyl succinate
Erythromycin
Clarithromycin
Erythromycin stearate
Erythromycin ethyl succinate
Erythromycin
Clarithromycin
Phenoxymethylpenicillin
Mometasone
Fluticasone furoate
Doxycycline
2. Exercise
Exercise helps to make your white blood cells (the ones which fight infections) travel through your body faster and do their jobs better, so make sure you’re doing at least 30 minutes of exercise three times a week to keep your body in the best condition.
3. Don’t bite your nails
Your nails are a breeding ground for germs, so the more you nibble, the more chance you have of developing infections or the flu.
4. Handwashing
Wash your hands frequently, especially after eating and using the toilet. A good clean for about 15 seconds with soap and warm water is the best. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser. Carrying a little bottle of hand sanitiser to use regularly, to keep germs at bay, especially when travelling on public transport and working at a desk (keyboards are riddled with germs!) Hand washing also helps protect against other germs and illnesses that there aren’t vaccines for, like the common cold.
5. Stop stressing
Stress has a huge impact on your body and can play its role in making you more susceptible to getting ill.
6. Get 8 hours of sleep
Lack of sleep can weaken your immune system, making you more susceptible to illness.
7. Cut down on your booze
The more you drink the weaker your immune system is and that is when flu and colds will attack. So, cut down on your booze intake and take plenty of fluids such as plain water to rush out the toxins.
8. Get your flu vaccination
If you’re offered the flu jab (mainly over 50s and those with chronic illnesses), then make sure you get it. It’ll give you a stronger chance of fighting off the flu.
9. Take your vitamins
It’s vital to get your RDA (recommended daily allowance) for vitamin E and other antioxidants including A, C and B-complex vitamins and minerals as they have properties that will enhance your immune response.
10. Don’t smoke
Smoke paralyses the cilia, the hair-like cells lining the nose and airways that sweep incoming viruses away before they can infect.
Navigating the flu season requires a varied approach that hinges on early vaccination, maintaining healthy habits and nurturing a strong immune system. Before taking a flu shot, you should always speak to your doctor or another qualified healthcare provider.
Sources
Can I Trust NowPatient
Our product and services are certified to international healthcare, medical device and data security standards
Medicines Experts
Meet our medical team
We are a broad skilled and passionate group of clinicians with experience of operating in health systems in the United Kingdom & United States. Providing excellent care and advice is at the heart of everything we do. You can read more about our medical team by visiting the medical team page or learn more about how we curate content by visiting our editorial process
WHY WE BUILT NOWPATIENT
We are committed to helping everyone, everywhere live healthier lives
The NowPatient virtual care platform provides you with access to trusted health information, affordable treatments, management of chronic health conditions and continuous monitoring for health risks. NowPatient can be accessed by downloading the App or using your web browser.
Download our app today
Your Questions Answered
For your peace of mind, we can answer your questions quickly
What does NowPatient do?
NowPatient is a digital health-technology platform functioning as both an online pharmacy and telehealth service. Packaged as a Class I software medical device, it’s accessible via web browser or mobile app (iOS and Android), and offers users worldwide on-demand access to virtual consultations, prescription services, and AI-powered health tools.
Ownership
The service is owned and operated by Infohealth Ltd, a licensed online pharmacy registered in England and Wales (company no. 04004930) with its registered office at Lynwood House, 373–375 Station Road, Harrow, England, HA1 2AW. Infohealth Ltd holds the necessary MHRA approvals for its pharmacy and telehealth offerings.
What It Does
- NHS Online Pharmacy: Order NHS-approved prescriptions (UK)
- Drug Savings: Access major US drug-savings programs (coupons, savings cards, manufacturer assistance, Canadian drug savings).
- Virtual Consultations: Get treated for a wide range of medical conditions by expert clinicians using a secure telehealth link.
- Medication Management: Set up refill & dose reminders, view private treatment plans, and track chronic conditions like diabetes or hypertension.
- Health-Monitoring Tools: Use AI-driven assessments for genetic risk tests, home test kits and blood-pressure monitoring.
- Wellness Insights: Access real-time pollen counts, air-quality data, BMI and type 2 diabetes risk scores, plus comprehensive health-condition information.
Get started today and benefit from Medication Reminders, Get Treated Privately, NHS Online Pharmacy, GP Appointment Booking, Rx Savings Card, Drug Coupons, US Drug Savings Programs, Health Conditions Information, Genetic Testing, Home Test Kits, BMI Risks, Type 2 Diabetes Risks, Pollen Meter, Air Quality Monitor, and lots more!
Our service is operated by experienced medical professionals in the United States and the United Kingdom.
You can view the online services we provide by clicking the link below:
Where is NowPatient located?
NowPatient has offices in the United Kingdom and United States.
In the UK, we are located at:
NowPatient
28 Chipstead Valley Road
Coulsdon
Surrey
CR52RA
In the US, we are located at:
NowPatient
8911 North Capital of Texas Highway
Suite 4200 #1263
78759
Austin, TX
How can I contact NowPatient?
To contact NowPatient, please use the contact form available on the Contact Us page.
Alternatively, if you need to speak to us, you can reach us on the following numbers:
UK telephone number – 020 388 51 500
US telephone number – 1-866-967-1977
Who owns NowPatient?
NowPatient is owned and operated by Infohealth Ltd, a licensed online pharmacy with services spanning the UK, US and Rest of the World. Infohealth Ltd is registered in England and Wales under company number 04004930 and our registered office is at Lynwood House, 373 – 375 Station Road, Harrow, England, HA1 2AW.
Our website is www.nowpatient.com. Our App is called “NowPatient” and can be downloaded from the App Store (for Apple devices) or Google Play (for Android devices).
Can you tell me more about your NHS online pharmacy?
NowPatient’s Pharmaceutical services in the UK are provided by Infohealth Limited trading as ‘Infohealth Pharmacy’.
Our dispensing pharmacy is regulated and authorized for internet sales by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), registration number 1036487. You can view our license credentials on the General Pharmaceutical Council website. Our superintendent pharmacist who is responsible for the safe and effective oversight of medicines supplies is Mr Amish Patel (Registration Number 2042705).
Medicines are not ordinary items of commerce. All medicines or healthcare product sales are made under the supervision of a registered pharmacist who is licensed by the GPhC. At all times, we endeavour to provide a professional and transparent service whose primary goal is to ensure that the best interests of the patient are served.
How do I make a complaint?
From time to time, we accept that our service levels may not be up to your expectations. NowPatient welcomes concerns, compliments and complaints as valuable feedback that will help us learn from your experiences and make improvements. Feedback can be provided via our clear and transparent Complaints Procedures.
Can you tell me more about NowPatient’s prescribing services for treatments offered?
Our prescribing services are regulated by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). We provide the following regulated activity:
• treatment of disease, disorder, or injury
• transport services, triage, and medical advice are provided remotely
• caring for adults over 65 years old
• caring for adults under 65 years old
NowPatient prescribing services are run by Infohealth Limited. The Clinical Safety Officer and nominated individual is Mr Navin Khosla.
Can you tell me more about NowPatient’s US services?
Our head of US services is Dr. Jamie Winn.
You can lower the cost of your prescription medications using our various savings programs which include drug coupons, savings card and manufacturer-sponsored patient assistance programs.
We do not provide any prescribing services or dispensing services in the United States.
Is NowPatient legit and can I trust information from NowPatient?
Yes. NowPatient provides trustworthy and accessible clinical, health education and prescription services. We are also trusted by the NHS to deliver clinical and NHS repeat prescription dispensing across the whole of England. In the United States, we work with over 65,000 pharmacies to deliver considerable costs savings for our users.
NowPatient is operated by experienced licensed medical professionals in the United Kingdom and United States. Our Medical Team can be found here.
Our service is trusted by thousands of patients worldwide. You can read their reviews on our Trustpilot:
What are NowPatient’s opening hours?
Our office hours are:
UK – Monday-Friday 9am-6pm GMT
US – Monday-Friday 8am-5pm EST
Please note that we are closed at weekends.
In the event of a medical life-threatening emergency please call:
UK – 999
US – 911
In the event of a medical emergency which is not life-threatening please call:
UK – 111