You know the signs. The thunderous cough. The pounding headache. The full-body fatigue.

It's the flu. Last fall and winter, influenza sickened roughly 40 million Americans and killed 60,000, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

This year's flu season is upon us. Here are four tips to stay healthy.

1. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. People should get the flu vaccine early. Every year, this shot prevents up to 6.7 million flu cases, 87,000 hospitalizations, and 10,000 deaths. The vaccine also helps makes the flu less severe for those who do catch it. 

The CDC recommends getting a flu shot no later than the end of October. The treatment takes around two weeks to become fully effective, so there's no time to waste. Better late than never!

2. Your mom was right. If you do fall ill, remember Mom’s advice. Drink lots of fluids. Juice, Gatorade, herbal teas and chicken soup can help fight dehydration. Menthol ointments and humidifiers break up mucus and make it easier to breathe. These treatments aren't fancy, but they provide real relief.

3. Remember that antibiotics won't help. Influenza is caused by a virus. Antibiotics, which only treat bacterial infections, are completely useless against viruses. Not all patients realize this. Many clamor for antibiotics at the first sign of flu-like symptoms. Such antibiotics won't make people feel any better. In fact, needlessly taking antibiotics increases people's risk of future infections. It gives bacteria an opportunity to evolve and become immune to treatments—a phenomenon known as "antimicrobial resistance."

4. Antibiotics come with risks. Overusing antibiotics accelerates the spread of drug-resistant bacteria known as "superbugs," which already kill over 160,000 Americans every year.

So remember: Get your shots early, follow your mother's advice and don't jeopardize your health by needlessly taking antibiotics.