How to Stay Healthy During Cold and Flu Season: 7 Ways to Avoid Getting Sick

Getting sick can make you feel miserable and cause you to miss out on work, school, and activities. Colds and the flu can cause unpleasant symptoms that can last a week or linger longer. These illnesses become much more common as the weather gets colder. Thankfully, there are some things you can do to avoid getting sick this time of the year. Here are some tips you can follow to stay healthy during cold and flu season:

1. Wash Your Hands Often

One of the best defenses to protect yourself and your loved ones from getting sick this cold and flu season is washing your hands often. Studies have shown that frequent hand washing can reduce the transmission of respiratory illnesses by over 20 percent. You should wash your hands as often as you reasonably can, and especially after you have been in a high-traffic area or around someone who is sick. Make sure you scrub every surface of your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

2. Avoid Contact with Sick People

A great way to stay healthy during cold and flu season is to avoid contact with sick people. If you know someone is sick or is exhibiting symptoms, try to keep your distance. The viruses that cause colds and the flu are primarily transmitted through respiratory droplets that are spread when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. If these droplets get into your mouth, nose, or eyes, they can infect you and make you sick.

3. Don’t Touch Your Face

Even if you are frequently washing your hands, it’s still possible for your hands to come into contact with germs in between washes. This is why it’s essential to avoid touching your face during cold and flu season. Your nose, mouth, and eyes are common entry points for germs, including the viruses that cause colds and the flu. When you touch these parts of your face, you can transmit germs from your hands to these entry points where they can then enter your body and infect you.

4. Sanitize Surfaces Regularly

The viruses that cause the common cold and the flu are transmitted through droplets that are spread when a sick person coughs, sneezes, or talks. It’s possible for these droplets to land on surfaces up to 24 feet away. The viruses in these droplets can survive on hard surfaces for several hours and even up to several days. If you touch an infected surface, you can then transfer the virus into your body and get sick. So, it’s best to disinfect surfaces regularly during cold and flu season. Sanitize high-touch surfaces and anything that has come into contact with a sick person.

5. Get Quality Sleep

Quality sleep is a great defense against colds and the flu. When you regularly get quality sleep, your immune system is strengthened and becomes better equipped to fight off illnesses. If you want to stay healthy during cold and flu season, try to get at least 7 hours of sleep each night. Research has found that people who get less than 7 hours of sleep each night may be up to 3 times more likely to catch respiratory illnesses such as the flu and common cold.

6. Eat a Healthy Diet

You can give your immune system a boost by eating a nutritious diet. Nutrients such as vitamin C, zinc, and vitamin D have been shown to support a healthy immune system and may even help prevent or reduce the duration of colds and the flu. Try to incorporate a variety of immunity boosting foods into your diet, such as citrus fruits, berries, leafy greens, colorful vegetables, and probiotic-rich foods.

7. Get a Flu Shot

One of the best ways to stay healthy during cold and flu season is to get a flu shot. It’s recommended for everyone 6 months old and older who is medically cleared to get a flu vaccine each year. Because flu viruses mutate, it’s best to get a flu shot each year to maintain maximum protection against the strains that are currently circulating. Flu shots help your body build immunity against flu viruses by teaching it to recognize them and make antibodies to fight them. For your convenience, you can receive your flu shot right here at Kizer Pharmacy without a visit to the doctor.

Give Your Immune System a Boost with Supplements

These are some of the best ways to avoid getting sick during cold and flu season. If you want to stay healthy, you need a strong immune system that can effectively fight off invading pathogens. Taking certain dietary supplements can supply your immune system with the nutrients it needs to function at its best. Check out these top 6 immunity boosting supplements that can help.