As you all know, spring is one of the beautiful seasons and also a key time of the year for seasonal allergies. At this time when plants release pollen, millions of people in the country with hay fever start to sniffle and sneeze. Cold and flu can really slow you down and act as real spoilers. You can get a flu shot of course. Even when you cannot completely prevent contracting a cold, making some deliberate lifestyle changes and adopting certain good habits can help you prevent the common cold and flu to a great extent.
- Make it a habit to wash your hands often, especially when you are around a person who has already fallen ill. If you touch an object on which another person leaves the virus, it is likely that you will carry the virus along with you.
- Don’t cover your sneezes and coughs with your hands. This will help to prevent it from getting stuck to your bare hands. Instead, cough or sneeze into the inside of your elbow in the worst cases when you don’t have a tissue.
- There are chances that the cold and flu viruses may enter through your eyes, nose, and mouth. So don’t touch your face unnecessarily, and wash your hands before and after doing so.
- Staying fit is important to avoid the chances of falling sick. So eat a healthy diet, importantly foods containing phytochemicals. Get involved in aerobic exercises regularly. This gets your heart pumping and helps increase your body’s natural virus-killing cells.
- Avoid habits such as smoking as it would hurt the immune system, preventing your body’s defense against germs.
- Cut back on drinking alcohol as it dehydrates your body in addition to compromising your immune system.
In the worst case if you fall ill, consult a physician and get timely medications to prevent it from becoming worse.