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‘Tis the season for enjoyable, festivities … and the flu.
We all know — whomp, whomp — however the flu is nothing to sneeze at. For some individuals, the flu generally is a critical, life-threatening sickness. The Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) estimated as many as 670,000 individuals have been hospitalized with the flu between October 2022 and April 2023. And through that point, as many as 98,000 individuals died from a flu-related sickness.
Fortunately, there are steps you possibly can take to guard your self and your family members throughout flu season. “Prioritize taking good care of you,” mentioned HealthyWomen CEO Beth Battaglino, RN-C. “We’re at all times enthusiastic about everybody else, however if you happen to go down with the flu, the entire household suffers.”
Battaglino famous that nothing is 100% efficient in stopping the flu, however listed below are her suggestions for staying as wholesome as potential — and hopefully flu-free — by means of the winter.
1. Get vaccinated
Should you get sick, the flu vaccine helps scale back the size and severity of the flu. Should you get the vaccine, you might go down for 2 or three days and that’s large while you’re taking good care of others. Should you don’t get the flu vaccine, you might be sick for for much longer.
Learn: Nicole Ari Parker on Selecting to Shield Herself and Her Household from Covid >>
It’s simpler than ever to get a flu shot. You may get the flu vaccine at your healthcare supplier’s workplace, native well being division and even your favourite pharmacy, which could even be in your favourite grocery retailer. Many of those locations take walk-ins, however if you happen to don’t need to wait, you may make an appointment earlier than you go.
2. Wash your palms often
Your palms are stuffed with germs, so wash them with cleaning soap and water for no less than 20 seconds.
To ensure you’re washing lengthy sufficient, strive singing “Completely happy Birthday” (twice). I take advantage of it as my go-to music as a result of it makes me smile and it’s normally somebody’s birthday once I’m engaged on the ground on the hospital.
Whenever you’re in a public place, one tip that I’ve realized from my mother is to tear off an additional piece of paper towel or tissue and use that as a barrier between the deal with and your clear hand.
3. Keep away from touching your face
It is so vital to attempt to hold the germiest a part of your physique (your palms!) away out of your eyes, nostril and mouth. It’s like a vacuum — the germs go proper into your system.
Should you contact your face lots, attempt to use a tissue or one thing in your hand to keep away from spreading germs.
4. Clear and disinfect surfaces
The flu virus can hang around on surfaces for as much as 48 hours. Common cleansing can assist scale back the unfold of the flu. Additionally strive utilizing merchandise with hydrogen peroxide, chlorine and different components that kill the virus.
5. Handle your stress
Stress can hurt your immune system, which places you at larger threat for getting sick. Train is an effective method to relieve stress. Take a stroll or go for a fast run. No matter helps you breathe and chill out — add it to your day by day routine.
6. Put on a masks
Should you’re not feeling nicely and suppose you might be coming down with one thing and also you’re touring or in a public place, put on a masks. It may possibly assist forestall the virus from spreading to individuals round you.
7. Crack the home windows
Automobile full of individuals or in a rideshare? Roll down the home windows a bit to encourage the contemporary move of air. If somebody is coughing or could also be contagious and also you don’t understand it, you’re much less prone to get sick with good airflow.
8. Handle your general well being
All of us are likely to overlook hydration, however ingesting sufficient water is vital to your general well being. If we will keep hydrated and eat nicely (Should you really feel such as you’re not consuming nicely, throw in a multivitamin) and train, all of these items can enhance general well being and wellness.
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