Central Texans who exercise benefit from a healthy lifestyle. From their perspective, they are more resistant to the cold and flu bugs that arrive each fall and their thinking is correct-sort of. The weather forecast for the fall and winter has more rain and cold in the Central Texas region, meaning those who exercise may have to be indoors for many of their workouts. Being indoors means shared space with others and that means germs. If you think you'll just stay away from people sneezing and coughing, you may want to rethink that strategy. Reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC have flu activity in Texas classified as "widespread." People are generally the most contagious with the flu 24 hours before they start having symptoms and during the time they have the most symptoms. That is why it is hard to prevent the spread of the flu, especially among children, because they do not always know they are sick while they are still spreading the disease. The risk of infecting others usually stops around the seventh day of the infection.

Influenza (or flu) is a highly contagious viral infection and is one of the most severe illnesses of the winter season. An estimated 5 to 20 percent of the population in the US contract influenza each year. An influenza virus is generally passed from person to person by airborne transmission. This means you can contract the flu by coming in contact with airborne viruses from an affected person by way of sneezing and coughing. The virus can also live for a short time on objects such as treadmills, barbells, door knobs, gym lockers and drinking fountains, for example. Therefore, it may also be spread when you touch something that has been handled by someone infected with the virus and then you touch your own mouth, nose, or eyes.

So you may find yourself in a Catch-22 if you're training for a marathon. You need to complete your long runs but if the weather is bad and you have to go to the gym to exercise, you run the risk getting sick. Catching the cold or flu could put you back on the couch for a week and possibly feeling exhausted for as long as three to four weeks. Runners planning on completing a fall marathon will be running more than 90 minutes in their preparation in the coming weeks, if not already. Exposure of 90 minutes to two hours in a populated gym could increase your exposure to others significantly.

Fighting infectious diseases today is much easier than in the past. With proper hygiene and proper precautions, in addition to numerous vaccines and rapidly advancing medical technology, people are better equipped than ever to avoid getting sick. Some may wonder if they need to get a flu shot. According to the CDC Flu Web site, "The single best way to protect against seasonal flu is to get vaccinated each year. The 200910 seasonal flu vaccine is now available. Fall is the best time to get vaccinated, but getting vaccinated later in the flu seasonin December, January, and beyondstill provides protection, as flu season normally peaks in January or later."

In terms of flu vaccinations, there's a lot of misinformation floating around out there. The truth is hundreds of millions of Americans have received the seasonal flu vaccines with mild side effects of soreness, redness and tenderness where the shot was given. The CDC reports seasonal flu vaccines will not provide protection against 2009 H1N1 influenza. The 2009 H1N1 vaccine is currently in production and initial doses of licensed vaccine are expected to be available by mid-October. Seasonal flu and 2009 H1N1 vaccines may be administered on the same day, with the exception that persons who wish to receive live nasal-spray vaccines for both seasonal and 2009 H1N1 influenza. They will need to receive those vaccines at least 4 weeks apart.

The CDC and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will be closely monitoring for any signs that the vaccine is causing unexpected adverse events and the Seton Family of Hospitals will work with state and local health officials to investigate any unusual events. The choice is clear; possibly experience a little soreness while your body creates an immune response to the vaccination or risk catching the flu and spending a week away from training and then another three-to-four weeks sluggishly getting through the workouts.

Influenza

Influenza is a viral infection of the upper respiratory system, which includes the nose, bronchial tubes, and lungs. Influenza is characterized by the following:

• fever
• muscle aches
• sore throat
• nonproductive cough

Influenza can make people of any age ill. Although most people and children are ill with influenza for only a few days, some have a much more serious illness and may need to be hospitalized. Influenza may also lead to pneumonia and/or death.

Influenza viruses continually mutate or change, which enables the virus to evade the immune system of a child. People are susceptible to influenza infection throughout their lives. The process works as follows:

1. A person infected with influenza virus develops antibody against that virus.
2. The virus mutates or changes.
3. The "older" antibody no longer recognizes the "newer" virus.
4. Reinfection occurs.

The older antibody can, however, provide partial protection against reinfection. Currently, three different influenza viruses circulate worldwide: two type A viruses and one type B virus. Immunizations given each year to protect against the flu contain the influenza virus strain from each type that is expected to cause the flu within that year.

Where to Get a Shot

Shots for Tots, Austin/Travis County Health & Human Services Department
Find a Flu Shot Resource Center. Enter your zip code and how far you'll travel to get a shot and the application will provide you with a map and locations, time & dates.
Walgreen's Pharmacy. Enter a zip code and a list will appear with the closest location providing vaccinations.
H.E.B. Rediclinics

You take time each day to improve your body's fitness, take a few minutes this time of year to also improve your health. You can improve your chances of not getting sick by eating a balanced diet void of overly-processed foods, get plenty of rest and wash your hands.

Medical materials adapted from Dell Children's online health encyclopedia, Austin/Travis County Health Department and Centers for Disease Control.