As flu cases surge across the UK, increasing by 55% in just one week, a leading GP is calling on the public to return to fundamental health practices to protect themselves. NHS data shows a sharp rise in influenza infections, prompting Health Secretary Wes Streeting to highlight a significant challenge for the health service “unlike any it has seen since the pandemic.”
Dr Dominic Greenyer, GP and director of The Health Suite, stresses the importance of maintaining overall health to bolster immune resilience. “The foundation of immune strength lies in the basics: consistent sleep, a balanced diet, regular moderate exercise, staying hydrated, and managing stress effectively,” he explains.
He also emphasizes the importance of spending time outdoors to maintain healthy vitamin D levels and ensuring chronic conditions like asthma or diabetes are well managed to reduce the risk of infection. Vaccinations remain one of the most effective defenses against severe illness.
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In addition to hygiene practices such as frequent handwashing, Dr Greenyer advises those feeling unwell to consider wearing face masks in public settings, especially crowded or poorly ventilated areas. “The guidance now echoes some Covid-era recommendations: improving ventilation indoors, using masks where viral activity is high, and avoiding close contact when sick are key steps to reduce risk,” he says.
Flu symptoms typically start suddenly and include fever, muscle aches, dry cough, and extreme fatigue. It is recommended to rest at home, drink plenty of fluids, and manage fever and pain with paracetamol. The guidance applies equally to children.
Dr Greenyer offers additional advice for parents: “Keep children well hydrated, encourage rest, and use age-appropriate paracetamol or ibuprofen for discomfort. Seek medical advice if your child is breathing harder than usual, can’t keep fluids down, becomes unusually drowsy, develops a non-blanching rash, or if a fever lasts more than five days.”
He adds that any signs of a child being severely unwell or ‘not right’ require immediate medical review. Beyond flu, winter also brings rises in RSV, particularly dangerous for babies and older adults, as well as norovirus, strep infections, and Covid cases.