During cold and flu season, are you bound to get sick? It doesn't have to be. If you prepare yourself by taking certain precautions, such as washing your hands frequently, and strengthening your immune system, cold and flu season is likely to pass without ever getting sick. Read Step 1 to learn how to prevent the common cold and other more serious illnesses by taking some simple precautions.
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Method 1 of 3: Preventing Colds and Flu
Step 1. Wash your hands
This is the most effective way to prevent yourself from getting a cold or flu and to make sure the disease doesn't spread to other people. The cold virus can easily be spread by touch. So, washing hands is the best way to get rid of the virus when exposed. Washing your hands is especially important after being in a public space where many people who may have the flu or cold have touched what you touched. Wash hands thoroughly with warm water and soap after:
- Travel by metro, bus or train
- Coming home from a busy convenience store or other shop
- Coming home from school or work
- Using public toilet
- Using gym equipment
Step 2. Don't touch your eyes, nose and mouth before washing your hands
Touching the banisters and elevator buttons is unavoidable, but touching the eyes, nose and mouth can be prevented. Touching these parts of the face makes it easier for the cold or flu virus to enter the body system. Do not rub your eyes, rub your nose, or lick your fingers before washing your hands with warm water and soap.
- Antibacterial wet wipes and gels are handy items to have on hand to use when you're away from a facility where you can wash your hands.
- If you must wipe your nose or touch your face, cover your hands with a tissue--or if you have no other option, your sleeves--to prevent germs from passing directly from your fingers to your face.
Step 3. Do not share food and drinks with others
During cold and flu season, it's a good idea to decline offers to share food and drink. Contact with another person's saliva or mucus is a surefire way of catching any virus that may be in that person's system. Use your own cutlery and glasses instead of sharing with others.
Step 4. Don't borrow personal items from each other
It may be obvious that toothbrushes should not be shared with other people. However, there are other personal items that should not be shared either. Don't borrow razors, nail clippers, and other items that come into contact with bodily fluids. Towels, washcloths, and even sheets and pillowcases should not be shared. All of these items can be a means of transmission of cold or flu germs.
- In addition, makeup tools should not be used together. Borrowing someone else's lipstick, eyeliner, mascara, and foundation can also transfer that person's germs to your face.
- Don't use other people's cell phones, and clean yours regularly.
Step 5. Avoid people who are sick
If you suspect that someone may be sick, it's a good idea to keep your distance from that person when interacting with them.
Also consider wearing a mask when going outside to protect yourself from bacteria and viruses
Step 6. Get a flu shot
When everyone around you is sick, extra measures are needed to prevent yourself from getting sick too. One smart precaution is to get a flu shot, which, for many people, is effective at preventing attacks until flu season is over. Visit a doctor for a flu shot, or go to the nearest pharmacy if you want to get the injection at a discount.
- Different flu injections are intended for different age groups. Some types of flu injection are intended only for people aged 18 years and over, while others are designed specifically for children or infants. Visit a professional clinic to get the right type of flu injection.
- If you are at "high risk" of getting the flu, you should get a flu shot. The “high risk” category includes: people aged 65 years or under or under 5 years, pregnant women, and people with certain medical conditions.
Method 2 of 3: Strengthen Immune System
Step 1. Eat lots of foods rich in vitamins
Whatever disease you're trying to avoid, give your body the best chance to stay healthy by eating a diet rich in essential vitamins and minerals. People who are malnourished are more likely to get sick. To keep your immune system strong, make sure the food you eat contains the following components that are important for a healthy immune system:
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Vitamin A.
Eat carrots, sweet potatoes, green leafy vegetables, pumpkins, apricots, and melons.
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B vitamins.
Eat nuts, vegetables, poultry, fish, and meat.
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Vitamin C.
Eat papaya, broccoli, bell peppers, oranges, kiwis, strawberries, and brussels sprouts.
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Vitamin D.
Get plenty of sun and eat salmon, herring, and soybeans.
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Vitamin E.
Eat almonds, walnuts, sunflower seeds, wheat germ, and peanut butter.
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Selenium.
Eat tuna, shrimp, salmon, turkey, chicken and a variety of fish.
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Zinc.
Eat seafood, beef, wheat germ, spinach, and cashews.
Step 2. Keep yourself hydrated
Drinking adequate amounts of water--and getting fluids from the vegetables and fruits you eat--is important for keeping the immune system strong and helping the body get rid of germs. Drink 2 L of water every day to maintain a healthy body. Increase your water intake if you feel you are about to fall ill. Make sure to stay hydrated throughout the day, from morning to night.
Step 3. Rest
You may have had this experience: staying up two nights in a row and on the third day you had a cold. Lack of sleep reduces the body's ability to fight disease, making it more susceptible to falling ill. Try to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep every night.
Step 4. Try to reduce stress
When it comes to sleep problems, the amount of stress in your life also has an effect. Social or psychological stress can also decrease the body's immune response. Stress can interfere with the body's communication between the nervous system, the endocrine system (hormones), and the immune system. Basically, stress blocks these three systems from working to maintain the fragile balance that allows the body to stay healthy. Scientists believe that stress causes the constant release of hormones that interfere with the function of white blood cells, the part of the immune system that fights germs.
Step 5. Reduce alcohol intake and smoking habits
Drinking alcohol and smoking cause various health problems as well as exacerbate common ailments. If you feel a little unwell, don't drink alcohol or smoke. Instead, drink water, eat healthy foods, and go to bed early, and you may avoid getting sick.
Step 6. Prioritize exercise
Exercising every day is the best option, but if you don't have the time, try to exercise at least three times a week. Exercise keeps the body's oxygen levels normal, removes toxins from the body, and strengthens the body, inside out.
Step 7. Use steam
Increase the humidity of the air with technology (vaporizer, humidifier) or the old way (pot of hot water). When the surrounding air becomes very dry, the body's mucous membranes tend to dry out too. While it may seem disgusting and useless, slime is actually very important. Mucus contains many useful antibodies that can prevent disease, as well as acting as a filter that catches intruders (bacteria) before they can fully enter the body's system.
Set the humidity level to the right air. Try to keep the humidity between 30-50% in summer and 30-40% in winter. Air humidity below 30% causes mucous membranes to become too dry. On the other hand, humidity of more than 50% causes a number of other health problems
Step 8. Consume spices that can support the immune system
While most spices have not been shown to prevent disease, there are some that seem to help. There is nothing wrong with drinking herbal teas and including spices in cooking to give the body the best chance to avoid disease. Try these healthy spices:
- Garlic has been known to help prevent infection.
- Ginseng is believed to be able to boost the immune system.
- Probiotics help the digestive system and prevent infection.
- Echinacea is commonly used to prevent colds, but its effectiveness is debated among medical professionals.
Method 3 of 3: Avoiding Disease
Step 1. Get the various important vaccines
Many diseases can be prevented by various vaccines obtained during childhood or later. If you have not received common disease vaccines, or are unsure whether the vaccine you have received is still effective, consult your doctor. Chickenpox, for example, is no longer ubiquitous thanks to vaccines--and so are measles, polio, and other diseases that were once common.
Step 2. Prepare before traveling
If you are planning to go to another country, find out if precautions are needed to avoid getting sick. Your body may not be used to the food and water in that state. In addition, you will also be exposed to various types of new pathogens. Take the following precautions:
- See a doctor for vaccines and preventive medicine before going to areas where malaria, tuberculosis, and other diseases are common.
- Find out what water and food are safe to drink and eat in the destination area. You may need to bring your own supplies to be safe.
- Bring mosquito nets if you go to areas where malaria is common.
Step 3. Have safe sex
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are not difficult to prevent if precautions are taken. Be sure to wear a condom or other protection that can prevent the transmission of STIs during sexual intercourse. If you have a regular partner, you and your partner should be tested for common STIs.
Tips
- Drinking water cleanses the body system. Make sure to drink plenty of water to feel better and refreshed. Drink much more water if you have a fever. Dehydration worsens the condition of the body.
- Think of something else or chat with someone.
- If you can eat a small amount of food and not throw up, try taking Pepto Bismol or drinking something like ginger ale.
- People may be nicer to you because you are sick.
- Eat light snacks, such as tea with toast, eggs, baked potatoes, etc. if your stomach feels uncomfortable. Do not consume acidic foods and drinks because they can aggravate stomach conditions.
- Take a long sleep and drink lots of water. Support your head with a pillow while sleeping so you don't wake up with a cold.
- Watch movies or play video games. Choose a comedy. These activities distract the mind from pain.
- Mention the names of animals/plants/music groups etc. starting with letters in alphabetical order. This method is great for distracting.
- Decide whether you should contact your school or work to ask for sick leave.
Warning
- If you're really sick, don't try to prevent yourself from throwing up because vomiting is your body's natural defense mechanism.
- Do not panic because it will only make the condition worse.
- Do not eat.
