Wait, What’s Flurona?

This winter, we can't catch a break.

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By Paola de Varona, News Editor This winter, we can't catch a break. As if COVID cases climbing exponentially nationwide wasn't bad enough, meet our latest worry: flurona. Today's Top Story Yes, You Can Get COVID and the Flu at the Same Time You may have seen the term "flurona" circulating the web recently, after doctors in Israel diagnosed someone with both the flu and COVID last week.   While the term is new, this isn't the first occurrence of double infection. One of the first cases was reported in a New York hospital in 2020. But how much do you have to worry about getting both viruses at the same time?   It's hard to say. "Although it's rare, it can happen since they're two completely different viruses and both are rampant right now," Purvi S. Parikh, MD, an allergist and immunologist at NYU Langone and the Allergy and Asthma Network, said.   Last flu season, there was a dramatic drop in influenza cases. But that isn't the case this year. The CDC has reported 18,479 flu cases compared to 877 at the same time last year. This means your chances of getting both COVID and the flu are higher now, too. Know More Experts aren't sure yet how a flu infection changes the severity of a COVID case and vice versa. But several lab studies point to a possibility for more severe illness. For example, one lab study found that infection by influenza A may increase a person's susceptibility to COVID by increasing the amount of ACE2—the receptor that allows the virus to infect our cells—in the lungs.   Still, the risk of severe illness from flurona likely depends on a slew of individual health factors like age and preexisting conditions. Feel Better If you're diagnosed with COVID and the flu by a healthcare provider, you can take medication for both simultaneously. For the flu, taking an antiviral like Tamiflu or Relenza can help shorten the illness and prevent complications. For COVID, two newly authorized oral antiviral drugs are now available. There do not seem to be adverse side effects from taking both kinds of drugs at once. READ MORE Flu cases are trending much higher than last year this season. Luckily, COVID safety precautions also help protect you against the flu. Protecting Your Mental Health During the Omicron Surge Just as we enter the depths of the winter season, a new surge in cases is beginning to unfold. It's normal to be experiencing some COVID whiplash right now. Experts say you should start out by acknowledging those feelings, rather than ignoring them. Then, reach out to someone you trust to talk through it. Feeling better is about going back to the basics: go outside and get some sunshine, get your body moving, and pick up some new indoor hobbies. READ MORE Logic's Song '1-800-273-8255' Saved Lives In some good news, music has the power to save lives. In April 2017, the rapper Logic released a song with a phone number for a title. "1-800-273-8255" shares the story of someone who doesn't want to live anymore. It's through calling the titular number, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline, that they get help. The song topped U.S. music charts and was a huge hit. Now, researchers found that it led to upticks in calls and may have even prevented suicides. READ MORE   Jeremy Lormis, PhD, LPC, lead faculty advisor of the clinical mental health counseling program at the University of Phoenix, shared in an interview with Verywell why self-care is especially important during this COVID surge. You need to make sure you're not neglecting to take care of yourself. That could be as simple as going out and being outside on a sunny day. Even if it's cold, if the sun is shining, go outside. If you can go for a walk, any sort of exercise is good. Jeremy Lormis, PhD, LPC, NCC, CCMHC Lead faculty advisor of the clinical mental health counseling program at the University of Phoenix   Keep Reading   ■ Diet Culture Is Unhealthy. It's Also Immoral. The New York Times     ■ Is Dry January a Good Idea? Popular Science     ■ Forecasting the Omicron Winter. Stat More From Verywell Difference Between Allergy Cough and COVID Cough READ MORE How to Maintain a Strong Immune System READ MORE What Happens During a Quarantine? READ MORE   How'd we do? If you have any feedback, send us a note at   feedback@verywell.com.       You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the Verywell Health newsletter. If you wish to unsubscribe, please click here.   A DOTDASH BRAND 28 Liberty Street, 7th Floor, New York, NY, 10005   © 2021 verywellhealth.com - All rights reserved. Privacy Policy