In this issue: Flu shot facts, cholesterol-fighting foods, keys to success, arthritis aids and more.

Find answers to your flu shot questions. Manage my newsletter.   HOUSECALL Mayo Clinic is ranked #1 in the nation. Vol. 17, Issue 80 | September 29, 2016   THIS WEEK'S TOP STORIES     Flu shot: Your best bet for avoiding influenza Flu season is nearly here, so it's a good time to get vaccinated. Wondering why you need a flu shot each year? Get your questions answered.     Eat well to control cholesterol   One way to help keep your cholesterol at healthy levels is by eating a heart-smart diet. Here's what to add to your plate, as well as foods to skip.           EXPERT ANSWERS   Foot swelling during air travel: A concern? It's common for your legs and feet to become swollen during a flight. Discover the most likely cause and what you can do. Sex after years of abstinence: OK to resume? With time and patience, you can resume sexual activity at any age. Here's what you should know.   PLUS ADDITIONAL HIGHLIGHTS ... Slide show: Joint protection for people with hand arthritis Legionnaires' disease Shin splints What does a 'seal of approval' mean?     TRUSTED HEALTH TOOLS   Use our Symptom Checker to explore possible causes of your symptoms based upon Mayo Clinic's patient care experience.   Use these simple calculators and self-assessments for personalized health tips.   Mayo Clinic healthy weight pyramid Calorie calculator     NOW BLOGGING   Going the distance: Success depends on commitment, not just genes It's often assumed that the most successful people have inherited a gift from the gods, but they're also totally committed to their craft.     MAYO CLINIC PRODUCTS & SERVICES   Arthritis? Lead a more comfortable and active life Did you know arthritis is the leading cause of physical disability in the United States? The good news is that there are things you can do to both lower your risk of getting arthritis and control the progression of pain if you have it. This book can show you how. Try Mayo Clinic on Arthritis today and discover how you can lead a more active, comfortable life. Learn more.     HEALTHY RECIPES   Apple dumpling Lemon cheesecake Spinach-stuffed sole Baby beet and orange salad   HEALTH TIP OF THE WEEK   Taking care of a blister? Here's how Need to drain a painful blister? To avoid infection, follow these steps: Wash your hands and the blister with soap and warm water. Swab the blister with rubbing alcohol, and sterilize a clean, sharp needle with rubbing alcohol. Puncture the blister at several spots along the edge. Let the blister drain, but leave the overlying skin alone. Apply antibiotic ointment and cover with a bandage. After several days, remove the dead skin with sterilized tweezers and scissors. Apply more antibiotic and a bandage.   Need practical advice on diet and exercise? Want creative solutions for stress and other lifestyle issues? Discover even more healthy lifestyle topics at MayoClinic.org.   Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. Advertising & Sponsorship Policy    |    Opportunities     Create hope and healing Create hope and healing with a gift to Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization, and every dollar of your gift goes to funding the lifesaving research, outstanding patient care and critical medical education our patients and their families will be counting on this year. Please consider making a gift today.     Connect with Mayo Clinic For more of our reliable health information and tools, visit us at MayoClinic.org. Or add us to your social network!   Like us on Facebook Follow on Twitter Follow on Pinterest   Watch on YouTube Patient Stories View More Newsletters       Thanks for joining our mailing list, mantiskhiralla@gmail.com, for Mayo Clinic HOUSECALL.   REMOVE me from this list | Add me to this list | Customer service   © 2016 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905. All rights reserved.