6 Ways to Avoid Colds and Flu
By Sandy Schroeder
The flu season is setting records and endangering people nationwide. To keep you and your family out of harm’s way, Kelly Reynolds, University of Arizona microbiologist and associate professor, says, “Take a holistic approach to health. Watch what gets on your body and in your body.”
Outrun the Germs
These are some tips to help you keep free and clear from illness.
Scrub and scrub some more - Respiratory viruses can live on plastic surfaces for 24 hours. So each time you touch an ATM button, vending machine slot, elevator button, or door handle, you may pick up a virus. When you think of all of the different surfaces that you touch in a day, you can see why hand washing is so critical. Scrub at least 20 seconds.
Make your face off limits - You may get by with germs on your hands, but the minute you touch your face you are opening the door to viruses. Most people touch their face three times an hour. Make an effort to touch your face less during the flu season.
Keep pouring the H20 – Before you reach for soda, juice, tea or wine, pour yourself a glass of water, and another after that. The idea is to keep your immune system in peak shape with cold-fighting water. If you fly a lot, water is even more crucial because the low humidity in a plane dries out the mucus lining of the throat and nose, which makes you more susceptible to viruses.
Exercise and eat healthy – Support your immune system with a good diet and regular workouts. According to the American Journal of Medicine, people who seldom exercise catch colds three times more often than people who exercise regularly. When you go to the gym wipe down the machines before and after a session.
Use disinfectant hand gels as backup – Soap should be the first choice but alcohol-based sanitizers help when you are on the go. Get a hand gel that is at least 50 percent alcohol or ethanol.
Use common sense about exposure – Avoid large crowds when you can, shopping early or late, and don’t go to work when you are sick, no matter how important the deadline. In some offices there is always one person who struggles in when sick, setting off a fresh wave of absences.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic. in Lawrenceville, Ga.