Top 10 Ways to Prevent A Cold or Flu
We are quickly entering the Fall season, which means Winter is just around the corner and its important to consider ways to prevent a cold or flu. There are no cures for cold or flu, so your best bet is to take precautions ahead of time.
Warding off these illnesses primarily involves taking a common sense approach to your daily life, but there are some things that people don’t generally think about!
Lets talk a bit about what you can do on a daily basis to prevent getting a cold or flu, or at the very least, minimize the symptoms if you happen to get sick.
Top 10 Ways to Prevent A Cold or Flu
Wash Your Hands
We know that the most common way to spread cold or flu is by being in direct contact with someone that is already sick. Sometimes people don’t even know they are sick, but are already producing the germs that can get passed on to others. In our everyday life, we share a lot of resources like, the telephone, keyboard and mouse, copy machines, etc. Someone that is sick can touch that one item and the germs can live up to a week! Everyone that comes behind them will be touching those germs and have the potential to get sick. If you wash your hands often, especially after using shared equipment, you will minimize your chances of getting sick. At the very least, keep some hand sanitizer with you and use it periodically.
Try Not To Touch Your Face
Viruses enter your body through you nose, mouth and even through your eyes. Even if you pick up germs, if you don’t touch your face often, you are less likely to pass the virus into your body.
Get Some Fresh Air
During cold weather we tend to stay indoors a lot more because there really isn’t as much to do outside! More fresh air is a big enemy of cold and flu. Take a short walk during your break if you are at work, or simply bundle up and walk up and down your street if you are at home. Encourage your children to do the same since they spend the majority of their day in crowded classrooms, with kids that don’t practice cold and flu prevention as well as adults!
Don’t Smoke
Research shows that smokers are not only more likely to pick up cold and flu more easily, but their symptoms last longer and they are more apt to turn into more serious illnesses such as pneumonia. Even if you are not a smoker, try to stay out of the way of cigarette smoke to minimize your risk of serious illness.
Don’t Sneeze or Cough Into Your Hand
We are taught from a young age and it is a natural instinct to cover our sneezes or coughs with our hands. It actually makes sense that doing so would minimize the spread of any germs you may have. BUT, this is probably one of the worst mistakes you can make. Any germs you sneeze or cough into your hands are more likely to be spread to others when you touch common items. Keep a box of tissues with you and sneeze or cough into it – then through it away immediately and wash your hands. If tissues are not readily available, turn your head away from other people who might be around and cough or sneeze into the air. I know this sounds like you are spreading the disease even more, but actually it helps to disapate the germs and makes it less likely that others will enhale the germs.
Eat the Right Foods
I’m sure you have heard all the research about how eating yogurt every day can not only help reduce your chances of getting sick, but it contains bacteria that is beneficial to your immune system. In addition, if you eat foods that contain phytochemicals, such as dark green vegetables, leafy vegetables, or red or yellow fruits, these foods are considered “supercharged” and can give you all the vitamins you need to boost your immune system. Boosting your immunity is a key step towards preventing illness, so grab some yogurt and an apple to eat every day!
Drink Lots of Fluids
What is the first thing your doctor tells you when you visit them for any illness? Drink lots of fluids! If you have never been told why this is important, consider that extra fluids flush out your system and rid it of poisons. In addition, it rehydrates you and helps your body function more efficiently. We all need about eight, 8 oz glasses of water a day, but research shows that most of us only drink about 2-3 glasses – so we are severely lacking what we need each day. If your urine is almost clear, that means you are getting enough fluids. If not, you need to start drinking more to jump start your immune system and bodily functions.
Get Enough Sleep
Insomnia is an epidemic in the US, and I, myself have suffered with it most of my life. It really is horrible when you know you are super tired, but you just can’t sleep. It takes a toll on everything in your life from how clearly you can think and reason, to your mood and how you handle conflict. But, it also has a ton to do with how you fight off illness. If your body is not able to rejuvenate and reload during a sound sleep, then your immunity is bound to be lacking. If you have trouble sleeping at least 8 hours a night, try cat naps during the day if you can. If your sleep problems are severe, then you need to contact your doctor.
Use Paper Towels or Disposable Items
Since germs can live on surface for hours or even weeks, minimize the chances of passing on a virus by using paper towels in your kitchen or bathroom. If you are unable to use them, especially in the bathroom, then provide a separate towel for each family member. This can help keep the germs from spreading. In addition, if someone in your home is already sick, try using disposable paper plates, utensils and cups for them. This way, the germs are thrown away immediately after use.
De-stress
Stress causes a multitude of problems and one of the key issues is a weakened immune system. Studies show that people that are emotionally stressed are more likely to catch a cold or flu, so do your best to control stress. Stress can not only cause a poor immune system, but it effects every aspect of your life. If you are having a difficult time with controlling your stress, you should contact your physician for guidance.
As you can see, taking small steps can not only boost your immune system, but help you fight off those nasty germs that cause Cold and Flu.
If you are looking for additional tips, visit the Health and Beauty section of our website.
