When it comes to colds and the flu, prevention is key since there are no known cures for these illnesses. However, there are simple things we can do to keep ourselves and those around us healthy .
1. Take time to get a vaccination.
· While there are many different flu viruses, the seasonal flu vaccine protects against the three seasonal viruses that research suggests will be most common.
· The seasonal vaccine will not protect you from the 2009 H1N1 strain of swine flu.
· Vaccinations are especially important for people at high risk for flu complications, including pregnant women, children, and people with chronic health conditions like asthma, diabetes or heart and lung disease.
2. Take precautions each day.
· Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or your elbow if you have to sneeze or cough. Throw the tissue away after using it.
· Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 30 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer.
· Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth.
· Limit contact with sick people. If you are sick, avoid contact with others until your fever has been gone for at least 24 hours.
3. Take flu antiviral drugs if prescribed by your doctor if you become sick.
· Antiviral drugs are given to those who are very sick and in the hospital or to those who are at high risk with high risk factors such as pregnant women, children, and those with chronic health conditions.
Three of the top prevention tips for fending off a cold are the same as for preventing the flu – wash hands, use tissues or your elbow to cover coughs and sneezes, and avoid touching eyes nose and mouth where germs can spread. But here are a few other ways to reduce your chance of catching colds.
1. Got water? Make sure you drink enough fluids to remain hydrated since water helps flush our bodies of toxins. Check the color of your urine to determine your hydration level. The clearer it is, the better. If the color is dark yellow, try to drink more liquids.
2. Get some fresh air. Bundle up and get outdoors, even for a few minutes each day. Staying inside increases your risk of a cold or the flu by: drying out your body from the heat and because there are more people inside with circulating germs.
3. Let’s get physical! Doing aerobic exercise causes an increase in your body’s natural disease-fighting white blood cells. Exercising regularly can also cut the number of days a person suffers from colds and the flu by half!
4. Eat a rainbow! Go for the colorful foods such as dark green, red and yellow fruits and veggies. The more colors, the more nutrients. These foods contain phytochemicals, the natural chemicals in plants that give us the super vitamins to help boost our immune system.
5. Yummy yogurt! Eating a cup of low-fat yogurt each day may reduce your risk of colds by 25% according to some studies. Plus, you get some calcium.
6. Beat the butts. Avoid smoking or quit altogether—statistics show that frequent, severe colds affect heavy smokers.
7. Cut back on the cocktails. Heavy alcohol consumption suppresses the immune system and dehydrates your body.
Source:WebMD
Center for Disease Control and Prevention: http://cdc.gov
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services: http://www.hhs.gov
Medline Plus: http://medlineplus.gov
WebMD: http://www.webmd.com
