Weekly Health Watch with tips to keep you healthy during the cold and flu season, burning calories during winter activities and more.

Between 15 and 61 million people in the United States will get the flu this year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Temperature taking is a key indicator of flu patterns and should be taken seriously, says Mary Pappas, the New York area school nurse credited with first alerting officials about the H1N1 outbreak in 2009.

"The flu usually comes with a fever while the common cold does not, so taking your temperature is the easiest way to tell the difference," she says.

To help you prepare and cope throughout the cold and flu season, Pappas recommends the following tips:

1. Wash your hands regularly for at least 20 seconds with soap and water to help prevent the spread of germs. Also, many public buildings provide hand sanitizer, so when you see it, use it.

2. Avoid sharing drinks or food with others.

3. Frequently clean commonly touched areas like doorknobs and light switches.

4. Always cover your mouth with your elbow or sleeve when you cough or sneeze.

5. Throw away tissues immediately after use.

6. If you have a fever, monitor your temperature regularly and check with your doctor about taking a fever reducer and an anti-inflammatory like ibuprofen.

7. Get plenty of rest and stay hydrated.

8. Use a humidifier to add moisture to the air and help drain congestion.

9. Stay home from work or school if you are sick to avoid spreading germs, and make sure your fever is gone for at least 24 hours before you return.

10. Consider speaking with your doctor about getting a flu shot. They are conveniently available in many physicians' offices, pharmacies and public health centers.

-- ARA

New Research: Reducing deaths from pregnancy, birth

According to a massive, three-year global study from the World Health Organization, 358,000 women die each year during pregnancy and childbirth and 7.6 million children die before the age of 5. In the study, 56 “essential interventions” were identified to reduce these numbers, including managing maternal anemia with iron, immediate thermal care for newborns and antibiotics for the treatment of pneumonia in children.

Did You Know?

2.5 million more young adults had health coverage in 2011. The Affordable Care Act allows those under 26 to stay on their parents’ insurance plans.  – HHS.gov

Health Tip: Winter fun burns calories 

Even sledding is more work than you think! Every time you take a ride down the hill, you most likely have to walk all the back to the top, and you can burn more calories by pulling a few kids on the sled as you go. Try sledding for 30 minutes, and you can burn as many calories as you would from a two-mile run.

-- Life Fitness

Number to Know

24: On average, 24 people per minute are victims of rape, physical violence or stalking by an intimate partner in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Over the course of a year, that equals more than 12 million women and men.

Teen Health: Risk factors for adolescent arrests

By age 23, a significant percentage of the population (25.3 percent to 41.4 percent) has been arrested at least once for a nontraffic offense, with the greatest increase in the risk of arrest happening during late adolescence. By 18 years of age, the arrest rate is between 15.9 and 26.8 percent. Early risk factors that can lead to such delinquency include poor academic performance, discord or abuse in the home, hyperactive behavior and poor concentration or language development.

-- American Academy of Pediatrics

Senior Health: No longer routine screenings

The U.S. Preventive Service Task Force says you don’t need to be tested for cervical cancer if you’re a woman age 65 or older. Likewise, if you’re 75 or older, you don’t need routine screening for breast, colorectal or prostate cancer. Despite these recommendations, many people are still receiving these unnecessary services, which are costly and can involve some risk.

-- AARP.org

GateHouse News Service