How to Stay Healthy When Everyone Is Sick
By Sara Butler
There's no time like the present to get into habits that can help keep your family healthy even when one -- or more of you -- are sick. Experts say that when one family member becomes sick, then the close proximity puts others in the household at risk too. While staying healthy when everyone around you has the sniffles can be difficult, it's not impossible. Here are some things you can to cut down on the chances you'll fall victim to bugs this winter that enters your household.
Limit Contact
When someone in your household is ill, then it's best to try to limit contact if you can. Isolate the person and avoid sharing anything in the home with them such as towels, cups, and the like. If the person who is sick is your significant other and you share a bed, then try sleeping in separate beds if you can. This will help to reduce transmission and keep you healthy as they work to get better.
Keep the Bathroom Clean
If you can avoid sharing a bathroom with sick people, then you definitely should. If the person who is ill can have their own bathroom to use, then that needs to happen. The reason is that bathroom surfaces can easily spread illness.
If you can't use different bathrooms, then a good strategy is to make sure that your bathroom is:
- Well ventilated - If you can turn on the exhaust fan while the sick person is in the bathroom and after they leave, then it can help. If there's no fan but a window, then try cracking the window open if you can to help with airflow.
- Keep the lid down - Flushing the toilet does, even if times when you're not sick, aerosolize fecal matter. Gross, yes, but a good reason to make it a habit to flush with the lid closed all the time but especially when someone is ill.
- Wash your hands - Everyone should wash their hands every time after they use the restroom and this is especially true for anyone feeling sick. Otherwise, their germy hands will touch the light switch and the doorknob at the very least that other people will touch those things too.
- Use bleach to clean - Clean the bathroom often with a bleach solution to help kill any germs that may be living on surfaces.
When someone in your home is sick, then there are things you can do to avoid joining them!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Rowlett, Tex.