You Can Reduce Your Chances of Getting a Cold
Monday, May 25th, 2009
We all know the achy, tired feeling that comes on when we’re getting sick, promising days of sniffling, sneezing, coughing and just generally feeling awful. While there is no surefire way to prevent getting all cold and flus that are going around, you can do a number of things to help reduce your risk of getting a cold at any time of the year and keeping those uncomfortable days of being sick at bay.
People very often catch a cold or flu from their workplace, something that could be all the more true for those working in health care. While you’re at work, make sure to wash your hands frequently especially before you eat or touch your face. This will help reduce the amount of germs and bacteria that can make their way into your body. You may even want to carry a small bottle of hand sanitizer or keep one at your desk to fight germs throughout the day. Try to avoid communal objects and take care when using common keyboards, phones and other things that have to be shared.
No matter where you work you can help reduce your susceptibility to colds by taking good care of your body. This means eating a healthy, balanced mix of foods including those that contain antioxidants and vitamins your body needs to build a healthy immune system. You’ll also want to make sure to stay hydrated and ensure your body has enough fluids to do what it needs to do. Depriving yourself of the essentials of a healthy body will make it that much harder for your body to battle off any invading particles and could weaken your immune system.
Finally, you’ll want to make sure that you’re getting enough rest and recuperation time each night. While we all lead busy lives, not getting enough sleep can take a serious toll on your body, increasing stress and depression and causing your immune system to take a nose dive. Resting up can help to give your body a chance to fight off infections and gives it the energy it needs to get through the day.
While there is not fail-safe way to keep colds at bay, you don’t have to invite them into your home and your body either. With a little prevention and care from you, you can help avoid getting sick during the height of cold and flu season and the rest of the year to boot.
