“My body aches and my head is throbbing. Do I have the flu or is it just because I’m stressed or tired? Do I need a flu shot? Do I need the H1N1 vaccine, too?”

Millions of Americans will be asking themselves these and more questions this fall and winter as news reports and health care providers continue to warn about seasonal influenza and novel H1N1 influenza, otherwise known as swine flu.

The flu symptoms self-assessment tool on MayoClinic.com can help you assess whether you or your loved ones have some form of flu, or just a cold. If you possibly or likely have the flu, you’ll also learn whether antiviral medication is an option. And you can check a concise list of high-risk groups who should seek medical attention for the flu.

Flu – influenza – is caused by a virus that attacks your respiratory system. Health experts agree that if you’re generally in good health, the flu – either seasonal or H1N1 – will likely do no more than make you feel rotten for a few days. You probably won’t develop complications or need to go to the hospital. If, however, you have an already weakened immune system or are among those considered high risk – such as infants, young children, pregnant women or the elderly – the flu can be a serious and even fatal illness.

Common symptoms of both the seasonal and swine flu include:

* Sudden onset. Colds usually develop over a few days and are only a nuisance. Flu hits you quickly and hard.

* Chills, sweats, headache and body aches, especially in the back, arms and legs.

* Fever higher than 101 F in adults and up to 103 or 105 in children.

* Nasal congestion but a dry cough.

* Overall weakness and fatigue.

* No appetite in adults and children, and diarrhea and vomiting in children.

* Worsening of chronic ailments like asthma, diabetes and heart disease.

Most healthy adults will only need to treat the symptoms and let the illness run its course. Infants, young children or adults at risk of complications, however, should see the doctor right away. Antiviral drugs, taken in the first 48 hours that symptoms develop, may trim the length of the illness and help prevent the development of serious complications like pneumonia.

Ultimately, getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones from contracting the flu. Talk to your health care provider about getting vaccinated. Visit www.MayoClinic.com for more information on managing your health.

Pregnant women have a lot on their to-do list, but rarely does it seem that flu protection is part of their prenatal health plan. This year, the flu presents an added threat to pregnant women and their newborns because of the new H1N1 (swine) flu virus. And the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and women’s health experts have identified pregnant women as a priority group for seasonal and H1N1 flu vaccination.

Yet a new survey, conducted on behalf of HealthyWomen by Harris Interactive in September, shows that while the majority of pregnant women and new moms are concerned about getting the H1N1 flu, only about one in four plan to get the H1N1 flu shot and less than half will get the seasonal flu shot this year.

The survey of 668 pregnant women and new mothers, 154 of whom are Hispanic, showed that only half of women (50 percent) know that getting a flu shot while pregnant will protect themselves and their newborn babies after birth.

“These survey results show the urgent need to educate pregnant women on the facts, benefits and safety of getting both the seasonal and H1N1 flu shots,” says registered nurse Elizabeth Battaglino Cahill, executive director of HealthyWomen. “Both the seasonal and H1N1 flu shots are safe for women to get during any stage of pregnancy and the shots are available in thimerosal-free forms, for those who are concerned about mercury preservatives. Pregnant women need to know that the best protection against the flu, for themselves and for their infants after birth, is to get a flu shot during pregnancy.”

To answer women’s questions about flu shots during pregnancy, HealthyWomen and the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) are conducting the “Flu-Free and a Mom-to-Be: Protect Yourself, Protect Your Baby, Get Your Flu Shots!” campaign. The campaign, supported by CSL Biotherapies, educates women about the risk of flu infection and complications during pregnancy. It also provides information on the facts, benefits and safety of flu shots. Support of the “Flu-Free and a Mom-to-Be” campaign reflects CSL Biotherapies’ ongoing commitment to raising awareness of influenza vaccination among priority populations. For more information about CSL Biotherapies, visit cslbiotherapies-us.com.

Pregnant women are at higher risk of hospitalization for complications from the flu due to physiologic changes associated with pregnancy, such as an increase in heart rate, reduction in lung capacity and changes in immune responses. Newborns too are extremely vulnerable to flu infection but are unable to get vaccinated until after they are 6 months old. The good news is that a pregnant woman can protect herself and later protect her newborn, against flu by getting her flu shots during pregnancy. In fact, according to a 2008 New England Journal of Medicine study, women who were vaccinated against the flu while pregnant or breast-feeding reduced the likelihood of flu infection in their newborns by 63 percent through passed immunity.

Talk to your healthcare provider about getting vaccinated against both the seasonal and H1N1 flu shots if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or a new mom this flu season. If you are concerned about thimerosal, the mercury-based preservative in some vaccines, there are thimerosal-free options available for both the seasonal and H1N1 flu shots. For more information, visit www.healthywomen.org/flufree. Information on the Web site includes:

* Answers to common questions and myths regarding flu shots during pregnancy

* The health benefits of getting flu shots during pregnancy for mom and baby

* The differences between seasonal and the new H1N1 flu viruses and why there are two vaccines this flu season

* The availability of thimerosal-free flu vaccines, for those concerned about vaccine preservatives

* Why pregnant women should receive the injectable versus the nasal spray flu vaccine

Keep yourself and your family flu-free this season by visiting getting both the seasonal and H1N1 flu shots.