Seven Tips to Stay Healthy This Holiday Season
It’s the “most wonderful time of the year,” which can also mean the most stressful time of the year for many. It is also a great time of year to pick up germs and illnesses from all the people you will be around at parties, shopping, work, gathers, etc. Despite your best efforts to avoid getting sick, it can be a challenge to stay healthy when people are sneezing, coughing, and sniffling around you.
Here are some tips to keep you healthy this holiday season so you can enjoy it even more.
Tips to Stay Healthy
It is important to focus on preventive care to stay healthy this year.
1. Wash Your Hands
Germs are present on virtually every surface you come in contact with at your home, the workplace, out shopping, and other people’s homes. Germs are active on doors, faucets, and water fountains and can remain alive on surfaces for to several hours, so frequent hand washing is a must.
2. Keep Your Hands Away From Your Mouth and Face
A very common way to get infected with cold and flu germs is to put your face directly in contact with viruses and bacteria. This is particularly important for “nail biters” under pressure, as the area under your nails is an ideal place for bacteria to thrive. When you bite your nails, the bacteria transfers right into your mouth and the rest of your body.
3. Get Some Fresh Air
When workplaces are not well ventilated, you breathe in air that is full of a virus- and bacteria-infected particles and become more susceptible to falling victim to illnesses. You can open the windows, even if it’s cold outside, to allow fresh air to flow through the room. Take a short walk outdoors to get away from the recycled air.
4. Keep Your Workstation Clean
At home and an office, make sure you wipe down your countertops, workspaces, etc. throughout the day with a disinfectant cloth. At an office with a lot of people, place an air purifier close to your desk to help filter the air and decrease recirculating germs.
5. Get Enough Sleep
Sleep requirements can vary slightly from person to person, but most healthy adults need between seven to nine hours of sleep per night to function at their best and have your immune system working properly to keep you from getting sick.
6. Get a Flu Shot
During cold and flu season, the flu shot is one of the best preventive measures you can take to avoid getting sick. Your doctor’s office can give you a flu shot.
7. Cut Back On Caffeine
Too much caffeine can cause you not to sleep and can make you more anxious. To keep yourself calmer and enjoy the holidays more, reduce the amount of caffeine that you take.
Make an appointment if you or a family member gets sick this holiday season.
Hillandale Primary Care & Laser Center is owned and operated by Dr. Saira Tariq Niaz, who is a board-certified family physician with offices in Lithonia and Lawrenceville, Georgia. Hillandale Primary Care provides patient-focused, compassionate healthcare of the highest quality to each patient and delivers acute and chronic healthcare to patients of all ages. We are passionate about preventive medicine and encourage each of our patients to take an active role in maintaining overall health and wellbeing. Call today at 770.322-9660 or request an appointment.
