As we approach the winter months, it’s no surprise that cases of flu and colds are on the rise. You may have noticed your friends and coworkers getting sick more than usual lately. This year is particularly bad for cases of influenza. With all of this illness going around, you may have stopped to wonder why people are more likely to get sick during the winter months. Most people believe that the cold temperature weakens the immune system making your body more susceptible to illness. This is not necessarily true.
While the temperature outside may vary based on the seasons, our bodies maintain a core body temperature of approximately 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. While the weather outside doesn’t impact our body directly, it does make individuals stay indoors more often. When the population moves indoors for an extended period of time, the infection rates increase. This is because we are in close proximity to one another for longer periods of time in closed-air systems. Therefore, the likelihood that an individual will spread their disease is much more prevalent.
So are you doomed? No. There are many ways to protect against illness during the winter months—and all year, really. Here are some of the best ways to avoid getting sick and spreading illness to others:
1. Handle and store food properly. Make sure to properly clean food and surfaces they touch. Always make sure to read the directions on labeling and prepare accordingly. Bacteria thrive in food and can find their way into our bodies. To avoid this, always make sure to take extra care when it comes to food.
2. Wash your hands. This is one of the best pieces of advice for those who want to avoid getting sick this season. While we know that washing your hands after using the bathroom is part of general hygiene, it’s especially important to regularly wash your hands throughout the day. Surfaces outside of the bathroom can be just as filled with germs. For example, money, hand rails, door knobs and keyboards are just a few of the surfaces that are filled with bacteria. As a general rule of thumb, make sure to keep your fingers away from your eyes, nose and mouth because they are the fastest ways we ingest viruses.
3. Be kind to your immune system. Our immune system is our body’s natural defense against disease. We are made to fight off attacks from bacteria and viruses. To help your immune system stay strong in the winter months, make sure to get plenty of sleep, eat well, exercise, limit stress and avoid consuming lots of alcohol or tobacco.
4. Eat well. Make sure you are eating a well-balanced diet. This means making sure you are getting plenty of protein and vitamins. You may even want to consider taking supplements to restore your body’s vitamin intake. Additionally, natural supplements such as Echinacea are designed to help boost your immune system.
5. Eliminate stress. Stress weakens your health. Your immune system can become compromised when stress levels are elevated. Stress causes high blood pressure, mental health issues and can have extremely severe consequences on your physical health. Around the holidays, people can become even more stressed. Make sure to take time to relax.
There are just a few ways to stay healthy this winter. Those who are around others for extended periods of time, such as students in the classroom or those who work in the health care industry should take extra precautions. Consider carrying anti-bacterial hand lotion and always make sure to wash your hands regularly and practice generally good hygiene. Are you interested in learning more about health and wellness?
This post was brought to you by Kara Taylor, who is currently pursuing a health care degree online.
