Ten Tips to Help You Stay Healthier

It doesn't seem to matter what season it is, year round people are getting sick. From sneezing, allergies, coughing and the oh-so-dreaded flu are you doing everything you can to keep your family healthy? In addition to increasing your intake of Vitamin C, and perhaps getting a flu shot, there are a number of quick tips to help your family avoid a year filled with sniffles, aches and pains, and to remain healthier and happier.

According to Dr. Kelly Reynolds, Microbiologist at The University of Arizona, there aren't any vaccines for the common cold, but there are plenty of defense mechanisms the average person can use to ward off germs and keep healthy.

Dr. Reynolds' top-ten tips include:

1.   Eat right, exercise and get enough sleep.
Making sure to eat plenty of fresh vegetables and fruit each day, as well as exercising regularly, will make it easier for your body to resist any kind of infection, including colds and flu. If your eating habits are less-than-perfect, add a multivitamin to your daily routine. In addition, if you are well-rested and get eight hours of sleep each night, you will be less vulnerable to catching a virus.  

2.   Get in a lather.
Wash your hands frequently with warm water, particularly around your rings and under your nails. Use liquid or plain soap, and lather for at least 20 seconds. The friction and lathering is what is most important. When turning off the water, be sure to use a paper towel to prevent recontaminating your hands.

3.   Vaccinate.
Flu shots aren't for everyone – but if you're over the age of 65, have a chronic disease affecting your heart and lungs, have diabetes or kidney problems, take certain drugs which affect the immune system, or work in institutions which care for these people; you should consider getting the flu vaccine. This preventative measure may lesson your symptoms or keep you from getting the flu altogether.

4.   To Help Clean the Air Around You.
From sick children and allergens to mold and other fungal spores, the air we breathe inside our homes can be worse than the air we breathe outside. To help clean the air in your home, use an air sanitizer, such as the revolutionary, new UV-C technology has been used in commercial settings to kill germs for almost 100 years and more recently in clinical environments, explained Dr. Reynolds. The Germ Guardian is a powerful consumer air sanitizer which uses UV-C light technology. It kills 99 percent of airborne germs making it the perfect addition to any household or office where people gather and the chance of transmission of germs is increased.

5.   Don't Touch!
Colds and flu can also be spread by hand-to-hand or surface-to-hand contact. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth after being exposed to viruses or bacteria.

6.   Sneeze Safely.
If you have to sneeze and can't find a tissue in time, sneeze into your shoulder (not your hands) to avoid spreading germs.

7.   Disinfect, Disinfect, Disinfect!
Be sure to clean and disinfect frequently used surfaces such as telephones, countertops, door knobs and stair rails to avoid hand-to-hand spread of viruses.                         

8.   Open the Windows.
Germs like stagnant air, and will remain there. Weather permitting, open windows to circulate fresh air.

9.   Avoid Smoking.
Smoking is a respiratory irritant that increases susceptibility to viruses that cause colds and the flu. Avoid smoking, as well as second-hand smoke.

10.   Stay away from sick people.
Saving the best advice for last – because colds and viruses are shared when these infections are coughed and sneezed into the air, try to stay away from people who are ill; and avoid enclosed, crowded places. If you're sick yourself, be sure to stay away from work and other public places if at all possible.

So, you've followed these tips and you still got sick? Not to worry. According to Dr. Reynolds, the best treatment is to rest, keep warm and drink plenty of fluids to help flush the germs out of your system. Although there aren't any drugs to specifically cure the cold or flu, there are some non-prescription medications to help relieve symptoms such as headaches, sore throats and coughs. Always check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any new medications, as they may have negative interactions with prescriptions you are already taking.

And if you're on the mend – it can't hurt to try some comforting cures, from chicken noodle soup to tea with honey – sometimes these remedies can do wonders in getting you and your family back on your feet.

*According to studies at the Harvard School of Public Health

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