A Student’s Guide to Beating Cold and Flu Season
Cold and flu season is closing in upon us, and anywhere there’s a crowd, there’s bound to be germs and viruses. Schools are high-traffic areas with plenty of face-to-face contact, so they afford a perfect opportunity for the spread of COVID-19, influenza, and other illnesses. As winter’s chill sets in, don’t let a common cold keep you under the weather.
Tips to staying healthy during flu season
1) De-stress Yourself
It’s a proven fact that stress hampers our immune system’s ability to fight germs. Even taking a few minutes every day to engage in some kind of relaxing, stress-busting routine will help to boost your potential to ward off a cold!
2) Sleep
If your body tells you you need sleep, then get some sleep! Feeling overly tired is often the first indicator that you’re fighting a germ. It’s when you’re at rest that your immune system can efficiently and successfully fight against microscopic invaders.
3) Exercise
Not only does exercise aid in releasing stress-fighting hormones, but it also helps your body to sleep better by tiring it out in a healthy, physical way.
4) Take A Vitamin Supplement
Researchers tell us that vitamin D is a significant factor in healthy immune system functioning. Reports indicate that most people suffer from a deficiency in this vitamin during the fall and winter months when they’re not exposed to as much sunlight. Echinacea is also touted as a herbal remedy to support the immune system.
5) Wash Your Hands!
The number one way to avoid communicable illness is to wash your hands thoroughly and regularly. Avoid touching your face, which could allow germs to enter your system through your eyes, nose, and mouth. This goes without saying in the post-pandemic world we live in right now.
6) Drink Plenty Of Fluids
Fluids, especially water, can help flush out your system and ensure your body has enough hydration to perform its vital germ-fighting operations!
7) Mask Up
First rule: if you’re ill, don’t step out. However, if interaction with certain people is a must, always mask up. It can prevent the transmittance of germs to and from you. Encourage your friends and family to do the same.
8) Do A Saltwater Gargle
Salt mixed in a glass of warm serves as a good gargling agent when you have a sore or scratchy throat. You can try ice chips too if this doesn’t work for you. And if both don’t, cough drops are always an option.
9) Give Honey A Shot
With a cold around, a cough soon follows. If you’re down with a coughing bout, try adding a spoonful of honey to hot tea when you’re drinking a cup. It’ll ease the cough. As a general rule of thumb, you should eat healthily to get better faster.
10) Use A Humidifier
The benefit of using one is that it can add moisture to your home, combating the dry winter and helping clear up the congestion in your chest. Just be sure to follow all the instructions and change the water daily.
Having a cold can be a real dampener when you have a lot of pending tasks, and assignments and just cannot afford to miss school. However, if you follow these tips, you’ll be back on your feet in no time.
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