GERMS COME CALLING WHEN THE TEMPS ARE FALLING!WHY DO MORE PEOPLE GET SICK WHEN THE TEMPERATURES PLUNGE? SIMPLE ANSWER IS WE HAVE LESS TIME OUTSIDE AND SPEND MORE TIME INSIDE, EXPOSING EACH OTHER TO MORE INFECTIONS. THE COMMON COLD CAN SPREAD VERY EASILY IN SCHOOLS AND DAY CARE SETTINGS. THE BEST DEFENSE? HAND WASHING, HAND WASHING, HAND WASHING! EVEN THOUGH YOU THINK THAT PERSON SNEEZING NEXT TO YOU IS TO BLAME FOR YOUR COLD, IT IS MORE LIKELY ILLNESSES ARE SPREAD FROM A CONTAMINATED SURFACE. THE INFLUENZA VIRUS CAN LIVE ON A SURFACE FOR 3 WHOLE DAYS! THAT’S A GOOD AMOUNT OF TIME, TO GET MANY PEOPLE SICK. HAVE KIDS WASH HANDS AS SOON AS THEY COME HOME FROM SCHOOL. BOOST IMMUNITY BY EATING A WELL BALANCED DIET WITH LOTS OF FRUITS AND VEGGIES, HIGH IN VITAMIN C.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE COUGHING AND SNEEZING?
REST: GETTING MORE SLEEP HELPS YOUR BODY RECOVER MORE QUICKLY. IT ALSO HELPS PREVENT THE SPREAD TO OTHERS WHEN YOU STAY HOME AND REST FOR A DAY OR TWO.
FLUIDS: DRINKING PLENTY OF WATER HELPS FLUSH OUT YOUR SYSTEM AND HELPS THIN MUCOUS, REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF GERMS THAT ARE STICKING AROUND IN YOUR NOSE AND MOUTH.
HUMIDIFY: USING A COOL-MIST HUMIDIFIER WILL HELP WITH STUFFINESS. SOME GERMS THRIVE IN LOW HUMIDITY, SO THIS MAY ALSO HELP REDUCE THE NUMBER OF BUGS YOU ARE FIGHTING OFF.
SYMPTOMS CAN LAST 7-10 DAYS OR LONGER BUT THAT DOESN’T MEAN YOU HAVE TO SUFFER THROUGH. WITH THESE SIMPLE TIPS, YOU CAN GET BETTER IN NO TIME!
STAY WELL!