My father aged 51 years suffers from diabetes and hypertension and frequently get influenza. read details.? -

are flu shots useful in his case to get permanent relief?

Respiratory problems are significant comorbid illnesses that go with diabetes. My doctor and pulmonologist highly recommend getting the flu vaccine every year. People with diabetes are on the priority list to get the vaccine, or at least I am because I have had several cases pf pneumonia and many asthma problems. I would highly recommend that your father see an allergist and pulmonologist (many allergists are also pulmonologists) and be evaluated ESPECIALLY if he has had any upper respiratory problems in the past. There are medications to help prevent more serious problems and there are things you need to learn to prevent them, like the warning signs of possible problems from overexertion or overexercise or exercising in bad conditions. Exercise, however, regularly is very important. New guidelines say walking for 45 min. to an hour a day, even in separate 10 or 15 minute blocks of time is extremely important. I am going to be 54 and I want to live for my children, who are still young and have at least 14 years before the last one graduates from college. We do not know how tenuous life can be. I don t want to be frightening, but with diabetes, the problems come at you gradually, and then suddenly you are confronted with the ultimate question, and you may not even be aware of the moment. I speak from experience. There was a time when I did not realize it, but people thought they were attending my death bed.

Influenza vaccines are created each year by companies that break apart strains of influenza virus that they believe will affect the geographic region in the upcoming season. Those viral quot;bitsquot; that are no longer functioning (note I did not say quot;livingquot;...viruses are not living organisms as they have no means of reproducing on their own) are now more readily recognized by the person s immune system and the system tends to react to the viral threats more quickly. HOWEVER: There is a large number of extenuating circumstances that affect the efficacy of the treatment. If a person s immune system is not up to snuff because of diet, stress, or other disease then the immune system will not be able to respond suitably anyway. If the strain of influenza the person contracts is strongly dissimilar (viruses mutate quickly and there is no such thing as an all-inclusive viral vaccine) then the immune system will not have the information necessary to make the quot;rapid responsequot; that it would be able to if it recognized the strain. Finally, there is no such thing as quot;permanent reliefquot; from influenza. There are so many strains and they mutate so quickly that the only real relief that can be provided is seasonal.