During the cold and flu season, it’s essential to take extra care of your health to prevent getting sick or to alleviate symptoms if you do catch a cold or flu. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated that influenza that results from cold and flu was associated with about nine million illnesses in 2021 – 2022. If you don’t want to fall ill as the risk of certain illnesses is high during this period, you need to practice some health tips.
Here are the health tips for cold and flu season that will help you stay healthy during this season.
11 Health Tips For Cold And Flu Season
Here are some health tips for cold and flu season to help you during this season:
1. Wash your hands regularly
One of the most effective health tips for cold and flu season is washing your hands regularly. Good hand hygiene is crucial in preventing the spread of cold and flu viruses. Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after being in public spaces, using the restroom, or before eating.
When soap and water aren’t readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol content to kill germs on your hands. This is because your hands can quickly get contaminated after much exposure to the cold and can easily get transmitted to the other parts of your body if not properly washed.
2. Avoid touching your face
Cold and flu viruses can enter your body through your eyes, nose, or mouth. Avoid touching your face, mainly if your hands aren’t clean. If you must touch any face parts, please wash your hands thoroughly with a good soup or clean them with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
3. Stay hydrated
One of the ways to stay healthy during this season is to stay hydrated. Drink plenty of fluids, such as water, herbal tea, and clear broths, to keep yourself hydrated. Hydration supports your immune system and helps maintain optimal bodily functions. Please stay away from carbonated and fast-sugar drinks.
4. Stay physically active
Engaging in regular exercise is another viable health tip for cold and flu season to enhance your immune system and overall health. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity per week.
5. Get enough sleep
Prioritize sleep and aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night. Adequate sleep boosts your immune system, helping you fight off infections.
6. Eat a balanced diet
Nutrition has much to play in keeping you healthy this season. Focus on consuming various fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats. These foods provide essential nutrients that support your immune system’s function. Also, do more hot foods during cold seasons, as it helps to keep your body warm. Avoid cold food for now.
7. Avoid close contact with sick individuals
Ome of the health tips for cold and flu season you have to keep in mind is avoiding close contact with sick individuals. If someone around you is sick with a cold or flu, maintain some distance to reduce your risk of exposure to the virus.
8. Stay home if you’re sick
If you develop cold or flu symptoms, such as a cough, fever, sore throat, or body aches, staying home is best to prevent spreading the illness to others.
9. Cover your mouth and nose
When coughing or sneezing, use a tissue to cover your mouth and nose. Use your elbow rather than your hands if a tissue isn’t available. This will help you not spread the infections to others, especially if you have the symptoms.
10. Consider getting vaccinated
Consult your healthcare provider about getting a flu vaccine. Vaccination can significantly reduce your chances of catching the flu or lessen the severity if you contract it.
11. Maintain a clean environment
To maintain a clean environment, regularly clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces, such as doorknobs, light switches, and electronic devices, to minimize the spread of viruses.
Conclusion
Remember, these tips can help reduce your risk of catching a cold or flu, but they don’t guarantee complete protection. If you have specific concerns or symptoms, it’s always advisable to speak to your doctor about it.
