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6 tips to avoid catching and spreading the flu
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How to avoid missed work and sniffles this flu season. - photo by Kaylee DeWitt
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the country has been hit especially hard with the flu. Nearly every part of the continental U.S. has been affected.

Influenza, or the flu, is a contagious viral illness that can cause headaches, fever, chills, fatigue, coughing, runny nose and sore throat, according to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases.

And if you are one of the lucky ones who haven't been sidelined by the flu, here are a few tips from the CDC, the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, Healthline, The New York Times, ABC News and other sources to keep you healthy until this especially bad sick season passes:

Get a flu shot every year. The CDC says getting vaccinated is the most important step to avoiding the flu, and everyone older than 6 months should get the shot. Those at high risk, such as children, people over 65 years old, those with health complications and who work or live in nursing homes have a higher need to get the vaccine.

Cough and sneeze into your elbow to avoid the spread of germs. Health.ny.gov suggests covering your nose with a tissue when you sneeze. The flu is spread through moisture droplets, which can end up in the air or on your hands after you sneeze or talk.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs are spread when people touch an infected surface and then transfer those germs to the face where they can enter through the eyes, nose and mouth. Therefore, frequent hand washing also helps to decrease your chances of getting sick.

Keep your immune system healthy. Eating a nutritious diet, staying hydrated, exercising, getting enough sleep and frequent hand washing all contribute to a healthy immune system.

Disinfect surfaces. Use a disinfectant cleaner or a bleach solution to kill flu germs on commonly touched surfaces rather than just moving germs around with soap and water, the New York State Department of Health says. Flu germs can live for two to eight hours on hard surfaces. Remote controls and phones are commonly touched objects that are rarely cleaned and can host flu germs.

Avoid crowded places, if possible, and close contact with those who have the flu. Even doctors offices, often crowded with sick patients, should be avoided unless you have a serious case of the flu. The CDC advises that people sick with the flu stay home until symptoms are gone for 24 hours.
Its toxic: New study says blue light from tech devices can speed up blindness
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A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers. - photo by Herb Scribner
It turns out checking Twitter or Facebook before bed is bad for your health.

A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers.

That process can lead to age-related macular degeneration, which is a leading cause of blindness in the United States, according to the researchs extract.

Blue light is a common issue for many modern Americans. Blue light is emitted from screens, most notably at night, causing sleep loss, eye strain and a number of other issues.

Dr. Ajith Karunarathne, assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, said our constant exposure to blue light cant be blocked by the lens or cornea.

"It's no secret that blue light harms our vision by damaging the eye's retina. Our experiments explain how this happens, and we hope this leads to therapies that slow macular degeneration, such as a new kind of eye drop, he said.

Macular degeneration is an incurable eye disease that often affects those in their 50s or 60s. It occurs after the death of photoreceptor cells in the retina. Those cells need retinal to sense light and help signal the brain.

The research team found blue light exposure created poisonous chemical molecules that killed photoreceptor cells

"It's toxic. If you shine blue light on retinal, the retinal kills photoreceptor cells as the signaling molecule on the membrane dissolves," said Kasun Ratnayake, a Ph.D. student researcher working in Karunarathne's cellular photo chemistry group. "Photoreceptor cells do not regenerate in the eye. When they're dead, they're dead for good."

However, the researchers found a molecule called alpha-tocopherol, which comes from Vitamin E, can help prevent cell death, according to Futurism.

The researchers plan to review how light from TVs, cellphones and tablet screens affect the eyes as well.

"If you look at the amount of light coming out of your cellphone, it's not great but it seems tolerable," said Dr. John Payton, visiting assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. "Some cellphone companies are adding blue-light filters to the screens, and I think that is a good idea."

Indeed, Apple released a Night Shift mode two years ago to help quell blue lights strain on the eyes, according to The Verge. The screen will dim into a warmer, orange light that will cause less stress on the eyes.