THE FLU AND YOU – COMMON SENSE WAYS TO PROTECT YOURSELF
11/11/2009
Do you know that some simple lifestyle changes can protect you against the flu? The recommendations listed below are easy to follow and will help protect you now that the flu season is here.
1. Get vaccinated. Please contact your family practice physician and make arrangements to be inoculated. This vaccine will protect you against a number of flu strains and is your first line of defense so it’s well worth the time it takes to schedule an appointment. Experts suggest getting the standard flu vaccine by the Thanksgiving holidays; however, getting vaccinated makes sense any time during flu season, which may last from October to May.
2. Coughing & Sneezing. Remember when your mom reminded you to cover your mouth when you coughed and sneezed? This advice is time-tested and invaluable. Use a disposable tissue if you have one to cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze. If you don’t, use the inside of your elbow instead of simply coughing or sneezing into your bare hands which will then spread the germs onto everything you touch.
3. Don’t touch your eyes, nose or mouth. The influenza virus can live for several hours on hard surfaces -- things you touch daily. You can protect yourself by not touching your eyes, nose or mouth and transferring the virus to yourself. Wash your hands often. Remember that one of the most common ways people catch colds and the flu is by rubbing their nose or their eyes after their hands have been contaminated with a virus.
4. Stay home. Avoid close contact with people when you are sick. Don’t go to school or work, etc., if you are sick with the flu.
It isn’t easy to always tell when people are sick and some people are contagious even before they start to have symptoms, so don’t expose your younger kids to large crowds of people if you don’t have to.
5. Wash your hands often. Encourage your children to wash hands before they eat, after they’s used the bathroom, after playing with animals; and after they come in from school and from playing. Set a good example for them by doing this yourself. If you are preparing food be sure to wash before, during and after you prepare the food.
Keep antibacterial soaps handy for when you are out and don’t have easy access to soap and water. Everyday items such as door handles, faucets, restuarant counters, drinking fountains etc., can be harboring the flu virus.
6. Clean your house. Routinely clean with soap and water, and disinfect surfaces, toys, and objects that younger children may put in their mouths. It may also help to wipe surfaces with paper towels that can be thrown away or cloth towels that can be washed afterwards.
7. Don’t smoke. The nose and airways contains tiny hair-like cells called cilia. Smoking paralyzes the cilia and prevents them from protecting you against germs.
8. Reduce alcohol consumption. Do you know that chronic drinkers suffer from more colds and flu because their immune system can be more easily compromised? Have a hot cup of black tea instead.
9. Practice healthy habits. Be sure and get 7-9 hours of rest each night. Eat healthy foods and drink lots of fluids. Also be sure to exercise on a regular basis - it helps to reduce stress that compromises the immune system.
The above are all practice suggestions for reducing your risk of flu and the best part is that many of these should already be a regular routine in your life.
Keep healthy this flu season by following common sense practices.
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