Ways to Avoid Catching the Flu this Season
Tuesday, January 15th, 2019, 1:46 pmAs you might have heard, flu season is among us. You might not have caught the flu for the last few years, but even the best of us aren’t always immune. Catching the flu can lead to missing days or weeks of work, and possibly spreading it to your coworkers or family. For those with serious health conditions, getting the flu can mean more serious consequences. We can all do our part to stay healthy and help prevent the spread of any illnesses.
Get Vaccinated
Experts say that getting the flu shot is the single best way to prevent yourself from getting the flu. Getting the shot early in the fall is best. The flu shot is meant to prevent you from contracting what experts believe to be most widespread that season. There are different types of shots you can get, and the health clinic you receive it from will have the information to help you differentiate between them.
Germ Prevention
Avoiding people who have the flu is not an easy task, so it's best to come prepared when going out in public spaces. Often, a sick person will cough or sneeze in the open, which ejects their germs onto nearby spaces. These germs can be on anything you encounter and make their way onto you when you touch your face. There are plenty of easy ways to help prevent these germs from getting into your system.
· Make it a habit to frequently wash your hands after you touch other people or surfaces.
· Try to avoid touching your face if you have not washed your hands after touching someone else or a public surface.
· Carry a hand sanitizer for easy disinfection when washing your hands isn’t an option.
· Keep disinfectant wipes on hand to wipe down surfaces that might be dirty.
Maintaining a Healthy Diet
Staying on top of your exercise and healthy eating regimes will help keep your immune system in check. Getting the recommended amount of quality sleep will also help to prevent your immune system from getting low and potentially contracting a virus.
Stay on Top of Your Medicine
As humans, we are not always perfect and the flu isn’t always avoidable. The best thing you can do for yourself if this happens is to take the medication prescribed by your doctor. While you wait for the medicine to do its job, you can take extra steps to help prevent spreading the flu to others.
· Sneeze or cough into your elbow.
· Avoid being around others if you have a fever.
· Properly dispose of any medical waste such as tissues and napkins.
Staying aware of when flu season is among us and taking extra precautions can help keep you and your family safe.
Category: Infections