A Doctor's View of the Flu

When someone gets influenza, they can have terrible muscle aches and feel like they've been hit by a truck, is a common thing I've heard patients say.

My name is Dr. Rachel O'Mara. I'm an internist in private practice, associated with Northwestern Medicine in Chicago, Illinois.

Flu has become a catch-all term, and I've heard lots of people talk about the flu when they mean something like cold symptoms or gastrointestinal symptoms, and not truly influenza.

Most people say they feel like they've been hit by a truck, that they're very fatigued. They move very minimally for several days, and it can keep you out of work or your household duties for 7 to 10 days.

Most patients I see that do get influenza, who have not had their flu shot, the next year are some of the first in line to get the flu vaccine.

I recommend the flu vaccine for almost all of my patients, and I think it's a great idea to get your flu vaccine.