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 You don’t want to spend the winter battling a runny nose, a nagging cough or a fever. But colds and flu come with the season, right?
Not necessarily, if you consider these suggestions:
1) Get a flu shot. “The best time to get the flu vaccine is in October or November, but getting the vaccine later is better than not getting it at all”, says Thomas Weida, M.D., spokesman for the American Academy of Family Physicians.
More than 35,000 Americans die each year of flu complications, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The young, elderly and chronically ill are at greater risk, but “almost everyone can benefit from the vaccine” he adds.
Flu shots do not cause the flu. They also won’t prevent colds.
2) Wash your hands often. It sounds trite, but using soap and water for 10 seconds a few times daily will help fight off most cold and flu bacteria.
3) Use tissues, and then toss them. Don’t stuff them back into your pocket. Also, tissues that you use and toss away are a better choice than handkerchiefs.
4) Avoid people who look ill. Catching a cold is hand-to-hand combat. If you shake the hand of someone who has a cold or the flu, there’s a greater risk you’ll become ill. All it takes is a brief exposure, then you rub your eyes, nose or mouth – and you’re infected.
5) Eat a balanced diet. Include plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Try to get most of your nutrients from food, but if you’re unable to eat well, it’s not a bad idea to take one multivitamin each day.
6) Get plenty of rest. The average person needs seven to eight hours of sleep a night. Teens and senior citizens may require eight to nine hours.
7) Keep stress in check. Stress can lower your immunity to colds and flu. So exercise regularly and don’t allow tension to build.
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