It’s that time of year again! Back to those days of coughing and sniffling our way around campus, armed with a full box of tissues and drugged up on Dayquil. It may feel inevitable, but there are lots of simple things you can do every day to help keep yourself (and those around you) healthy. Learn more about sickness prevention here and boosting your immune system here.
1. Wash Your Hands
This is second nature to most of us, but during these winter months when sickness is everywhere, washing your hands more often may save you a good bit of grief. If you don’t have access to soap and water or are just often on the run, grab a little bottle of hand sanitizer to keep in you bag. Make sure to clean your hands after touching things in public (door knobs, elevator buttons, computers) as these are often riddled with germs. Also, stop yourself from touching your face at all if your hands aren’t clean as the CDC cites this as an easy way to ingest germs.
2. Get a Flu Shot
There are many schools of thought out there about vaccinations. Regardless of what you’ve heard, the science speaks for itself. According to the CDC, the flu vaccine reduces illness 50-60% during the flu season. From afar this may not sound very high, but 50% is way better than 0%, at least in my opinion. As for the rumor that the flu shot makes you sick, this is simply false. Flu vaccines are made of flu that has been “inactivated” so they are not infectious at all. If you came down with something around the same time you got your flu shot, it was only a coincidence. To learn more about common misconceptions about the seasonal flu shot, check out the rest of this article on the CDC’s website.
3. Eat Healthy
We all know the saying “an apple a day keeps the doctor away”, but in this case, it may be true. Consuming a diet high in vitamins and minerals can help keep your immune system in tip-top shape. Furthermore, a healthy diet is good for your body as a whole.
4. Stay Hydrated
Whether you are sick or not, drinking lots of fluids is so important. When you are sick, this becomes even more vital. Your body requires at least ~1 gallon of water a day. When you’re sick, you may be losing fluids more readily if you’re vomiting or have a fever so you need to ingest more to make up for this. Sick of guzzling water? Sports drinks, juice, and soup are all great choices while caffeinated drinks and alcohol should be left behind. Learn more about staying hydrated here.
5. Get Some Sleep
We hear this all the time, but we rarely listen. I love a good Netflix marathon as much as the next girl, but trading that for a good night’s sleep can be detrimental. According to a study in the Archives of Internal Medicine, the subjects who got less than seven hours of sleep were almost three times as likely to get a cold than the subjects who got more than eight hours of sleep. Keep your body happy and get some shut-eye!
6. If You Are Sick, Rest
This almost goes without saying, but too many of us push our bodies way past their limits. It’s hard to stop and take a break as overscheduled and dedicated college students, but your body can’t heal if you’re still running around. Furthermore, when you go out and do things while you’re sick, you risk getting everyone around you sick as well. If you’re sick, stay home and let your body take a breather for a day or two.
7. If You Think You Have the Flu, Go to the Doctor
Within the first 48 hours of flu symptoms, you can get a flu anti-viral medication that can shorten your time being sick by one to two days. If you’ve ever had to flu, you know how miserable it is so being spared even a day of symptoms is worth it. Most urgent-care centers offer these drugs. Learn more about flu anti-virals here.
8. Keep Your Respiratory System Clear
If you’re sick, invest in a humidifier or a neti pot (or both!). A humidifier eases sore throats and a neti pot helps flush out your sinuses. Clogged up sinuses can lead to a nasty infection so pick up this handy little thing at any pharmacy and you won’t regret it. If you’re stuffed up, sleep propped up on pillows so mucous doesn’t sit in your sinuses all night as that is a breeding ground for bacteria. Learn more about these remedies here.
9. Clean Your Surfaces Periodically
This becomes even more important if you live with other people such as in the dorms. Buy some anti-bacterial wipes or Lysol spray and every few days, wipe down the surfaces that are touched most such as door knobs, desks, computers, tables, etc.
10. Listen to Your Body
This is the absolute most important thing you can do. Only you know your body best. If you feel off or like you are coming down with something, don’t push yourself. If you do become ill, take care of yourself. If you do these little things to keep yourself well, it can save you a whole lot of hurt later.