Since the H1N1 flu pandemic of 2009, this has been a potential sickness that many people have taken far more seriously than they did in the past. The reason is although they may have viewed getting the flu as a minor inconvenience prior to that pandemic, after all the chaos surrounding that event, they begin to view this condition in a different light. Now, before we go into this issue any further, it’s worth noting that for an average healthy adult, getting the flu means they’re going to feel awful for a few days and need to stay home before returning to work.

That being said, for certain groups of people, the risks associated with the flu can be more severe. As many individuals already know, two of those groups are young children and the elderly. The reason both groups need to be especially cautious about the flu is because their immune systems may not be capable of fighting it off. Because of that reality, both the young and the old are more likely to have serious complications or even die as a result of getting the flu.

While that’s obviously something that needs to be taken very seriously, what’s arguably just as important to note is those aren’t the only two groups who have increased risks if they’re exposed to the flu. In fact, there are two other groups who also need to be especially cautious during the time of year when the flu is prevalent. The first group is anyone with a chronic medical condition. Whether they’re dealing with heart disease, diabetes or asthma, having that type of condition can mean that someone’s immune system isn’t at an ideal level of strength. The result of a weakened immune system is being more susceptible to the worst possible effects of the flu.

Pregnant women are the other group that need to be especially cautious when flu season really kicks into high gear. The reason is of the approximately 36,000 who die from the flu each year, the majority of those people are from a group that’s considered high risk. And women who are pregnant are one of the four groups that are considered high risk.

Why exactly are pregnant women more at risk of getting the flu? The reason is because pregnancy causes changes to a woman’s immune system. This in turn makes her more sensitive to the flu click now. And the implications of that is it can cause significant issues for the unborn baby, including premature labor and a higher possibility of birth defects.

To prevent against those potential problems, the CDC has not only declared the flu shot safe for pregnant women, but recommends that they should definitely get it to protect themselves and their baby. With that being said, a woman who’s pregnant should not receive the flu vaccine in nasal spray form. A woman who’s given birth within the last two weeks should also avoid taking the nasal spray vaccine.