{"id":2853,"date":"2018-10-01T22:15:10","date_gmt":"2018-10-01T22:15:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/besthealth.guide\/?p=2853"},"modified":"2021-10-13T04:15:14","modified_gmt":"2021-10-13T04:15:14","slug":"8-most-common-flu-shot-side-effects","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/besthealth.guide\/8-most-common-flu-shot-side-effects\/","title":{"rendered":"8 Most Common Flu Shot Side Effects"},"content":{"rendered":"

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When it\u2019s time for flu season to come around, it\u2019s likely that your doctor has recommended that you get a flu shot. Research says that getting a flu shot can drastically reduce your chances of getting sick during the flu season \u2013 but what most people don\u2019t know is that their flu shot will only protect them against some flu strains, and usually only the two or three most common strains for the season.<\/p>\n

This means that you can still get flu even if you\u2019ve had your flu shot \u2013 it\u2019ll just be another strain of the flu instead. While it\u2019s an obvious fact that flu shots can help you be healthier during the flu season, it won\u2019t make you immune to catching flu bugs by any means \u2013 and more research shows that there are some side-effects associated with getting your flu shot.
\nHere are the 8 most common flu shot side effects.<\/p>\n

1. Experiencing a Headache<\/h3>\n

One of the first side effects that you could experience after getting your flu shot is a slight headache, and it\u2019s one of the most common symptoms associated with most types of shots or vaccinations. The headache is your body\u2019s immune-system<\/a> response to getting an injection of foreign bodies \u2013 in this case, it\u2019s a flu shot.<\/p>\n

The headache can usually be expected to go away a few minutes to hours after your first flu shot, and it\u2019s usually not much to be concerned about. You might find that you are a little more sensitive to light for a while, and it helps to wear dark glasses until it goes away \u2013 especially if you have to drive and expose your eyes to direct sunlight.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019d like to get rid of the headache sooner, over-the-counter painkillers are enough to banish the headache \u2013 and remember to drink plenty of water so that you stay hydrated. If the headache continues or you start to show migraine-like symptoms, visit your doctor.<\/p>\n

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2. Soreness, Redness or Swelling at the Injection Site<\/h3>\n

Most people who have just had an injection<\/a>, vaccination, or shot of any kind will experience some mild tenderness, redness, or swelling in the site where the injection took place \u2013 it\u2019s also not uncommon to experience slight bruising that usually goes away a couple of days after the injection.<\/p>\n

People might have varying views about how they feel when it comes to tattoos, but the body simply doesn\u2019t like being poked and prodded with a needle \u2013 and any poking or prodding will be responded to by the body. This is just your body\u2019s way of protecting the injection site from any infection: In this case, the swelling is the body\u2019s way of ensuring that no infection can enter through the injection site.<\/p>\n

Even a drop or two of blood is common with injections and shots \u2013 for this, some cotton pressed onto the injection site for a few minutes should do. If bleeding is more severe than expected, make an appointment with your doctor.<\/p>\n

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3. Fever<\/h3>\n

Normal human temperature is usually around 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit, and you could experience a slight fever<\/a> that persists for a couple of hours after you\u2019ve had your flu shot. In most cases this is nothing to worry about and just another way for your body to respond to the presence of anything foreign \u2013 your body\u2019s immune system usually creates a fever to try and create an environment that cannot be habituated by germs.<\/p>\n

This is why you usually get a fever when you are sick with any type of infection \u2013 and it also happens to be why you get a fever when you\u2019ve had your flu shot. Your body is tricked into thinking that it has a mild form of the flu virus \u2013 and some people\u2019s bodies will respond to this by countering with symptoms that can include fever or replication of the minor flu.<\/p>\n

This usually doesn\u2019t last long, though if it continues for more than a day after you\u2019ve had your shots, you should see a doctor.<\/p>\n

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4. Nausea<\/h3>\n

It\u2019s normal to experience slight nausea for a while after you\u2019ve had your flu shot \u2013 and this might even press some people to vomit at least once a few hours after they\u2019ve had their shot. There\u2019s not much that you can do about this: It\u2019s a normal part of your body\u2019s response to being injected with the flu vaccination, and there\u2019s not really much to worry about here.<\/p>\n

There are many over-the-counter medications available that can control the symptoms of nausea<\/a>, and this is about all you can do if you start to experience nausea due to your flu shot.<\/p>\n

If the condition persists for a day or more after you\u2019ve had your flu shot or goes together with any signs of an allergic reaction (including a rash, reddening of the skin and itching) then you should see your doctor; allergic reactions to vaccinations aren\u2019t common, but they do happen to some people and need immediate medical attention when they do.<\/p>\n

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5. Muscular Pain<\/h3>\n

Muscular pain is common with people who have just had their flu shots, and it can be related to the body\u2019s immune response to the injection. Again, this is a completely normal symptom \u2013 and it\u2019s something that should go away within a couple of hours within having your flu<\/a> shot.<\/p>\n

People have described the associated muscular pain in a variety of ways, though most people describe it as feeling like they\u2019ve just run a marathon and then some: It can manifest in several different ways. When it shows up, it\u2019s an easy symptom to control, and taking some over-the-counter painkillers along with getting into a hot bath can do wonders for the associated pain.<\/p>\n

If it persists for any longer than you expect it to or the muscular pain becomes more severe over time, it could mean there\u2019s something else wrong that\u2019s unrelated to the flu shot at all \u2013 and you should make an appointment with your doctor.<\/p>\n

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6. A Severe Allergic Reaction<\/h3>\n

Severe allergic reactions aren\u2019t common if you have just had your flu shot, but they can happen to a small cross-section of people who get vaccinations \u2013 and immediate medical attention is of vital importance if you are experiencing this. In fact, you could put your life at risk if you ignore the starting symptoms of an allergic reaction.<\/p>\n

Most of the symptoms mentioned on this list are normal side effects of getting a flu shot \u2013 though an allergic reaction is not. Allergic reactions can manifest in any number of ways, including itching, a running nose, difficulty breathing, talking, or swallowing; it can also cause redness<\/a> and swelling in various parts of the body, along with very severe muscle pains and a fever.<\/p>\n

People who have ever had an allergic reaction \u2013 whether it was hayfever or a peanut allergy \u2013 will know just how crucial medical attention is in the case of allergic reactions. If you experience any allergy symptoms after a flu shot, get yourself to the emergency room.<\/p>\n

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7. Flulike Symptoms<\/h3>\n

Flulike symptoms might sound counterproductive if you\u2019ve just had your seasonal flu shot, but it\u2019s a very common side effect in a lot of people who have just had their shots. These symptoms usually \u2013 and luckily \u2013 don\u2019t last as long as a normal flu infection would, and they usually disappear within a day or two of getting the flu shot.<\/p>\n

We all know the symptoms of flu: Muscle cramps, feeling like your skin is on fire, running a slight fever \u2013 and some people also experience congestion<\/a> and coughing along with it.<\/p>\n

This can be considered normal, though shouldn\u2019t stick around for too long if you\u2019ve had your flu shot. If these symptoms continue after the shot, it might not be caused by the flu virus at all \u2013 and you should make an appointment with your doctor, or at least use over-the-counter flu medication to treat the symptoms until they disappear, which should be within a few days at worst.<\/p>\n

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8. Guillain-Barr\u00e9 syndrome (GBS)<\/h3>\n

GBS is a very uncommon side-effect of getting the flu vaccine, and it\u2019s highly unlikely that it should ever happen to you. If you want to know just how unlikely, statistics collected by the CDC estimates that only 1 or 2 people per million vaccinated people will ever show any symptoms of GBS \u2013 but that doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s an impossibility, and if you experience any symptoms associated with GBS then you should make an appointment with your doctor immediately.<\/p>\n

GBS is a neurological condition that usually starts with slight tingling in the lower extremities (like the hands or feet) and then works its way up to the top \u2013 and paralysis<\/a> can be a very common consequence of undiagnosed and untreated GBS.<\/p>\n

There are also other associated symptoms, such as feeling fatigued, experiencing high blood pressure, or an unusually fast heart rate outside of your normal range. If this describes any symptoms after your flu shot \u2013 and these symptoms persist for a while \u2013 then you should visit your doctor. Remember to mention when and where you had your flu shots and your suspicion that you might have GBS.<\/p>\n\r\n

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