You are coughing, you can’t breathe, every part of your body hurts. You roll over and look at the clock, it’s 3 a.m. You have to get up in a couple of hours to go to class and you realize you have the flu. What do you do? What could you have done to avoid this conundrum?
Unfortunately, not everyone knows what to do when they are sick. They feel they must go to school or work, despite running fever and feeling ill. This is how the flu spreads. Here are a few tips to avoid spreading or catching the flu.
- If you feel ill, and especially if you are running fever, stay home.
- Avoid contact with people who are sick.
- Cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough.
- Wash your hands often. If soap is not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Don’t touch your eyes, mouth, or nose. Germs are often spread by touching something contaminated and then touching your face.
- Keep your home and workspace clean and disinfected.
- Get plenty of sleep. Your immune system has to work overtime when you are tired.
- Exercise. A healthy exercise routine keeps your body healthy.
- Avoid stress as much as possible. Oftentimes, stress can weaken your immune system and cause physical symptoms.
- Drink plenty of fluids and eat nutritious foods. Keeping yourself hydrated and eating a healthy diet is a good way to support immune system function.
- Take a quality multivitamin. Keeping your macro nutrient levels up can help support a healthy immune system.
- Above all, get your flu shot. Pharmacies give the flu shot and it is covered by most insurances. This preventative measure can save you tons of money on cold and flu medications and loss of work.
If you begin to feel ill, there are other things you can do to shorten the virus. The over the counter, non-drowsy remedy Oscillococcinum is a great way to feel better fast. You could also try taking Zinc, Vitamin D3, and Vitamin C to boost your immune response.
With the cold and flu season in full swing, it’s important to be vigilant. Stay healthy!