Protect Yourself From Cold and Flu

Cold and flu season is just around the corner. And with it we can expect the normal bouts of winter ill-health. Not particularly fun for anyone! With that in mind, how can we prepare ourselves to get through the winter with minimum sniffles and sneezes?

Here, we go over a few of the ways that you can stave off colds and flus this year.

Cold and flu protection 101: Hygiene

Both the common cold and the flu are spread through person to person contact. This means that if you’re sitting next to someone with the flu and they sneeze on you, you might catch it too. And if you happened to sneeze on someone you can pass it on as well.

Sick senior woman suffering from cold and flu blowing nose to paper napkin

Hygiene is key to keeping cold and flu season at bay. Wash your hands regularly, always carry a handkerchief or tissues, and cover your mouth when you cough. And, of course, don’t sneeze on people or let people sneeze on you!

Here at Fairview Adult Day Care Center in Brooklyn we are constantly vigilant when it comes to seasonal germs. For that reason, our home is spotlessly clean and our residents are always up-to-date with their hand washing and sniffle control!

Boost your immune system

Your immune system has the colossal task of fighting off viruses, bad bacteria, infections, and all those other nasty things your body doesn’t need. Or want.

To get through winter cold and flu free, you’ll want to help your immune system as much as possible. To do this, you should aim for peak physical condition, here’s how:

Eat right

We know you hear this a lot, but that’s only because it’s so true. Eating right is one of the very best ways that you can keep yourself happy and healthy. Try to consume a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables in a wide variety of colors.

Doing this means that your body will be getting a lot of the essential vitamins and minerals it needs. And keeping your immune system on track.

Daily multivitamin

Just in case your diet isn’t delivering all the essentials your body needs, a multivitamin can help. Often taken once a day, these tablets usually contain a full mix of vitamins and minerals in considered amounts. Some are even specially formulated for cold and flu season.

Do check with your doctor before you start on a new supplement, particularly if you’re currently taking prescribed medication.

Moderate exercise

Yes. Even in winter. There’s no need to run a marathon, but regular moderate exercise is a great way to naturally boost your immune system and help to keep those pesky colds and flus away.

Get a flu shot

A common cold is one thing, the flu is another entirely. Having a serious dose of the flu can see you out of action for weeks or months on end. That’s no fun for you or anyone around you.

You can help avoid this during cold and flu season by getting a flu shot. The flu shot, or jab, is a vaccination against influenza—a condition which sends around 200,000 people to hospital each year.

There are minimum side effects to the flu shot and great advantages. Get in touch with your physician to make sure you’re protected.

We’re striving for a happy and healthy cold and flu season this year and hope you do the same, too.

This article is for educational and informational purpose only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. For any questions about your own health condition, speak to a qualified physician or healthcare provider.