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HEALTH AND FITNESS: STAYING WELL THROUGH THE SICK SEASON
Katharine McCoy
October 16, 2008
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It is never easy to be sick. Nothing can keep you off your bike like a bad head cold, flu or a stomach virus. But it doesn’t have to be that way. While there is nothing you can do to make sure that you never get sick there is a lot you can do to increase the odds in your favor.
Wash Your Hands (A Lot)
The biggest way to prevent getting sick is to wash your hands. Most virus are caught by getting germs on your hands and then putting your hands near your face and touching your eyes or nose. Wash your hands with soap and warm water throughout the day. If you wash your hands every time you use the restroom, every time you eat and every time you come home you will do a lot to keeping those germs away from your throat where then lodge to make you sick.
Keep hand santitizer with you for times when you can’t get to soap and water such as after you use the ATM machine, pump gas or after shaking everyones hands at meeting. Hand sanitizer has been shown to be very effective on cutting down on illness especially stomuch virus. If your hands tend to get dry keep lotions on hand for after you wash you hands.
For extra protection if you have children make sure that you wash you children’s hands and teach them to wash them often as well. We all know that little kids are often the ones to bring the germs into the house. Little ones will need some extra help washing their hands long enough and really scrubbing up with the soap.
Get Enough Rest
A few late nights in a row is one of the quickest ways to get sick. When you are tired your body’s immune system cannot work to its potential. That means that germs are more likely able to run you down. So make sure to keep the holiday partying to a minimum and get at least 7 hours of sleep each night.
Get Plenty To Drink
Most people know that when you get sick you should drink plenty of fluids. But the truth is that drinking plenty of water is also a great way to keep from getting sick. Water helps your body to flush away germs and keeps your immune system functioning well.
Eat Your Fruits, Veggies And Protein
It is easy during the winter to let your diet slip. After all there are cookies and candy everywhere you look and it is hard to pass up all of the goodies. But don’t let that stop you from eating all of the good for you foods as well. Eating fruits, vegetables and healthy snacks such as nuts and a little chocolate will help fill you up with healthy foods, give you the vitamins and minerals that your body needs to function and will fill you up so that you eat less junk.
Clean Your Desk
If you work at a computer or use a phone make sure that you clean them at least every few days. This is even more important if you share these things with a co-working. Keyboards and phones, even cell phones can harbor a lot of germs. Have a bottle of Lysol on hand give your desk and equipment a light swipe before you start work so you can clean the germs off.
Get A Flu Shot
Flu shots are available now and will be widely available this year. Unlike in years past where there have been shortages. Anyone who is young or old should defiantly get a flu shot. These people are at greater risk for having serious complications if they do get sick. But even for the rest of us a flu shot is a wonderful choice. After all who can afford to spend 7-10 days during the winter season sick? You may have heard that you can get the flu from having the flu shot but that is not true. The flu shot uses a dead virus that can’t make you ill. However some people may have thought they had gotten the flu because it takes up to two weeks for the flue shot to work which means that if you are expose to the flu during that time you may still get sick and many people have blamed that on the shot. If you do get the shot you may still get the flu but most people who do are able to recover quicker from it and with less chances of complications.
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