Tips for Preparing for Flu Season
Autumn is here, and hopefully you are out
enjoying yourself in the crisp air and taking part in all of the seasonal
festivities. In order to keep having fun all fall and winter long, it is
important to remember that this wonderful autumn air also means that flu season
is just around the corner. Taking certain simple precautions to protect
yourself and your family can make all of the difference in keeping yourself
well this year. Here are some important steps that you can take to prepare for
flu season and stay healthy.
Eat and Drink for Health
One of the simplest steps we can take to ward
off the flu is a practice everyone should ideally adhere to all year round:
choose a healthy diet that will help your body to maintain a strong immune
system. This does not really require any special or complicated diet. The
basics are to stay well hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids and to eat a diet
that is healthy and balanced. Food choices that may be particularly beneficial
will include lots of fruits and vegetables that are high in antioxidants.
Antioxidants carry many benefits, and are becoming more and more known to the
public. One of these wonderful benefits is they can work as immune boosters,
helping you and your family to have a healthier life overall.
Avoid Germs
There are many steps you can take to limit
your contact with germs. Some of these may be more obvious than others, but if
you begin a mindful routine of keeping yourself and the objects you come into
contact with sanitized now, you will likely have formed good habits by the time
flu season is in full swing. Proper hand washing is a hugely important
practice. Many people know that they should wash their hands, but are not
necessarily washing properly. To really benefit you should wash in warm, soapy
water for between 30 to 60 seconds. It may help you to keep track of the time
if you get into the habit of singing a song like the ABC's as you wash, and
this will definitely help young children with washing their hands. In public
places, try to wipe off surfaces like doorknobs with sanitizing wipes, if
possible, as the flu virus can live up to 48 hours on hard surfaces. A good
alternative is to use a hand sanitizer after touching these surfaces, but
remember not to eat or touch food immediately afterwards. Wait a few minutes
first so the sanitizer has time to kill the flu germs.
Get a Flu Shot
Though you should definitely follow every step
to keep yourself healthy, the method of protection that is by far the most
effective is getting a flu vaccination. The flu shot is recommended for almost
anyone over six months of age, with a few exceptions, including people with
severe allergies to chicken eggs or a history of Guillain-Barre Syndrome. If
you do decide to get a seasonal flu shot, be sure to get it as early in the
season as you possibly can, because its effectiveness only really kicks in by
developing the right antibodies in your body about two weeks after the shot is
administered.
Neville Street is the Administrative Director
for Rodriquez MD, a bilingual medical practice in Lawrenceville, GA that
provides health care to infants, children, adolescents and adults. Lawrenceville
doctors Deborah and Veronica Rodriguez are sisters with a
combined 27 years of experience. The doctors are Board Certified in Family
Medicine and Internal Medicine and both Gwinnett physicians have extensive
experience working in private practice.
For more information visit: http://www.lawrenceville-doctors.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Neville_Street/797940
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