Nobody likes to be sick. You feel tired, aching, and it can result in missed work time. Catching the flu can even be dangerous for people over the age of 70. And while sometimes flu season can get the best of us regardless of how hard we try, there are some ways to stay healthy and maintain your overall well-being. Here are some of the best tips for preventing illness this flu season.
Get a Flu Shot
Every year the flu is different, and getting a flu shot is one of the best ways to ensure you can protect yourself from it. An annual flu shot can significantly reduce your chance of getting sick, and if you do get sick it can reduce the severity of your symptoms. This is especially beneficial for seniors who are particularly susceptible.
Wash Your Hands
We are constantly touching all sorts of things throughout the day— from shopping carts, to door handles, to our steering wheels. There are all sorts of bacteria spread all over the place, which is a perfect breeding ground for spreading the flu virus.
Get into the habit of washing your hands several times a day, especially when you come back from a public location. Remember, washing your hands for a few seconds may seem like you’re getting the job done, but in reality, you need to wash your hands for at least 20 full seconds to reap the benefits. Remember, if you don’t have warm water or soap nearby, use hand sanitizer.
Practice Healthy Habits
One of the best ways to build up a strong immune system and stay strong even during flu season is to practice healthy habits. A healthy lifestyle will help your body fight off nasty infections like the flu, and keep you feeling great.
Healthy habits range from getting enough exercise to eating a well-balanced diet with plenty of nutrients and vitamins. In addition to these things, you should also consider taking a daily multivitamin which can boost your immune system even more.
Avoid Crowds
Any time you’re in an extremely crowded place like a subway, a big social event like a wedding, or even the grocery store, you’re putting yourself at risk of getting sick. Although we can’t always avoid crowds, it helps to minimize them as much as possible if you’re hoping to avoid getting sick. Masks can help, however, whenever you’re in an extremely crowded area, a mask can only do so much.
In addition to crowds, you also need to make sure that you limit contact with people who you know are sick. Ideally, people should practice proper illness etiquette themselves, and avoid exposing you to their illness without you having to ask, however, sometimes it’s up to us to avoid contact.
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