Make Hand Washing a Habit
Hand washing is like a “do-it-yourself” vaccine that involves five simple steps — Wet, Lather, Scrub, Rinse, Dry — you can take to greatly reduce your chance of getting the flu this season. Regular hand washing, particularly before and after certain activities, is one of the best ways to remove germs, avoid getting sick, and prevent the spread of germs to others. It’s quick, it’s simple, and it can keep us all from getting sick.

Take Symptoms Seriously
Most otherwise people can weather the flu just fine; however, there are exceptions. Pregnant women are 4 times more likely than the general population to be hospitalized for the flu. People with underlying conditions that affect their immune system — diabetes, asthma, or heart, liver or kidney disease — are also more likely to suffer complications from the flu.

If you fall into one of these categories, watch closely for the following symptoms: fever, sore throat, cough, runny nose, sneezing, muscle aches, and fatigue or exhaustion. Call your doctor immediately if anything feels off.

Keep Cold and Flu Germs Off Surfaces
Colds and flu are caused by viruses, which can easily pass from person to person, or from surface to person. Computer keyboards, cell phones, doorknobs, desktops and pens all have surfaces that have the potential for harboring germs. Keep alcohol-based sanitizers and antiseptic wipes nearby, and wipe down anything you come in contact with.

Get Plenty of Sleep
As an adult, you should get between seven and nine hours of quality, uninterrupted sleep every night to stay healthy and avoid viruses like the flu. Ample rest will improve the function of your immune system and help your body cope with stress and emotional control. It’s important to establish a regular sleep cycle. In fact, studies have shown higher rates of cancer among people whose sleep/wake cycle is disrupted (like night shift workers).

Exercise Regularly
Almost always a good idea anyhow, regular exercise can also do wonders to help you avoid the flu. The increased circulation from exercise gets white blood cells moving around the body to help boost the immune system and fight off infections.

Source: Medical Daily

Posted by Ray Simon

Ray Simon is a veteran copywriter with more than a decade's worth of experience in the field. He studied journalism at Vanderbilt University, graduating Cum Laude in 2007. Ray currently specializes in writing content and news articles for independent publications.