The only thing worse than dealing with people around you getting sick, is when you get sick too. Kids can come home from school with colds. Spouses can catch the flu at work. Co-workers come to the office with coughs and running noses.
There are cold and flu germs everywhere! However there are some simple things you can do to be proactive about staying healthy.
Remaining healthy is important — obviously you don't want to get sick — but it is especially important to women who typically take care of the rest of the family.
Americans catch 1 billion colds per year so it is more than likely you will come in close contact with someone suffering from one. Getting a flu shot is something most doctors recommend for their patients and it's a bit of a no-brainer for anyone worried about getting sick.
Here are 10 other things you can do right now to not get sick, even if everyone around you is:
1) Wash your hands.
The number one way to avoid getting sick is to wash your hands. Wash your hands frequently with soap for 20 seconds throughout the day and especially after you have come in contact with people who are sick.
2) Don't share.
While your kids are sick, don't finish the half-eaten cookie they left on their plate. Don't take a sip from your spouse's coffee mug when he has a cold. Don't borrow your sick co-workers stapler.
Just don't share because you may be also sharing germs you don't want.
3) Don't touch your face.
It might be hard, but do your best to not touch your nose, eyes, or mouth to keep any germs you may have picked up from getting inside you.
4) Get enough sleep.
A good night's sleep can help raise your levels of melatonin which improves immunity. Plus, getting enough sleep can stave off that "run down" feeling that often precedes sickness.
5) Get rid of used tissues.
Don't let your loved ones stack up used tissues on the coffee table or bedside table. Once used they should be disposed of immediately. (And try to have the person who used the tissues dispose of them so you don't have to touch them.)
6) Keep it clean.
Focus your cleaning efforts on surfaces that the sick people around you touch all the time like door knobs, computer keyboards, iPads, smart phones and remote controls. Disinfecting these things will help to keep germs at bay.
7) Go to the gym.
When people around you are sick, don't hibernate inside your home. Head to the gym for some cardio or strength training. It can help boost your immune system. Exercise increases the number of your white blood cells which fight any viruses already in your bloodstream.
8) Eat an apple.
An apple a day might really keep the doctor away, after all. Red apples have the natural antioxidant quercetin in them that could boost your immunity, especially if you're under stress. Quercetin is also found in green tea and broccoli.
9) Stop stressing.
The fear of something bad happening (like getting sick), can actually lower your immunity. When you worry, cortisol and epinephrine levels increase and these hormones can weaken your immunity.
10) Get your vitamin C.
While vitamin C doesn't actually prevent a cold, it can boost your immunity to help keep you healthy. Vitamin C can be found in citrus fruits as well as other fruits and vegetables.
With cold season peaking in January and influenza (flu) season peaking in February, there's still a lot of time left you may have to deal with being surrounded by sick people. By using these ten tips though, hopefully you can stay happy and healthy, even if everyone around you is sick.
Sources:
UWHealth.org. Web. 15 January 2015. "10 ways to stay healthy during cold and flu season."
http://www.uwhealth.org/flu/10-ways-to-stay-healthy-during-cold-and-flu-season/10371
Foxnews.com. Web. 24 October 2012. "Tips for staying healthy during cold and flu season."
http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/10/24/tips-for-staying-healthy-during-cold-and-flu-season
Reviewed January 16, 2015
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith