Each year, people spend over $10 billion on flu-related doctor’s visits and trips to the hospital. 200,000 Americans are hospitalized due to complications from the flu annually. Even in mild cases, the flu is miserable. A regular case of the flu generally lasts between 3 and 7 days. Even after this period, a cough and fatigue can persist for two weeks or more. They say that “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” From professional carpet cleaning to getting vaccinated, here are a few suggestions on how to protect yourself and your family from getting sick.