How to Stay Healthy During Flu Season

It’s flu season, and while Coronavirus is dominating the news, the common flu is just as deadly. Check out these tips to avoid getting sick.

The elderly, children, and people with compromised immune systems are most at risk of flu-related complications, however, anyone can get the flu.

Flu season generally starts in November and lasts until spring, so now is the time to take care of yourself in order to stay healthy.

There are various strains of the flu that vary by region, but in general, these are the symptoms to watch out for:

• cough
• sore throat
• runny or stuffy nose
• headaches
• fatigue
• body or muscle aches
• fever (though not everyone who gets the flu has a fever)

Preventative Measures

Minimize the risk of getting sick by adhering to these daily habits:

1. Get Enough Sleep

Sleep is strongly linked to the immune system. According to a recent study conducted at the University of Tübingen in Germany, a good night’s sleep can boost the effectiveness of specialized immune cells (called T cells). T cells recognize pathogens and target them to keep you healthy. Quality sleep (7 to 8 hours for adults), has the potential to enhance the efficiency of T cell responses and keep your immune system strong.

Try an Aromatherapy Spray to help you relax. Spray it on your pillow to help you reduce stress and fall into a deep sleep.

 

 

Use some Silicone Earplugs that are soft and comfortable in your ears to cancel noise and ensure peaceful uninterrupted sleep.

 

You can get it from Amazon.ae for 34 AED

Or, get a portable white noise machine (with nature sounds, too) to help you fall asleep and stay asleep.

 

2. Stay hydrated

Drinking water helps your lymphatic system flush out toxins, which is extremely important when you’re trying to stay healthy during flu season. The average person needs between 2 and 3 liters of water per day to keep from being dehydrated. Even mild dehydration can make you feel tired and unfocused.

Change up your water and get a reusable bottle with a removable strainer so you can infuse your water with fruits, vegetables or herbs.

 

Drink tea for the antioxidants and to increase your daily water intake. Echinacea tea is thought to have immune-boosting benefits.

 

If you’re already sick, steam from hot beverages stimulates your nose and lungs to help move mucus out of your body and also soothes inflamed membranes that line the nose and throat.

If you are constantly in treated air (either air conditioning or heating), you might consider getting a small humidifier.

 

Humidifiers can help with cold symptoms and sinus issues, like congestion.

3. Keep germs away

Even if nobody around you are sick, it’s important to keep yourself and your surroundings clean. Washing hands often, especially before and after eating, is key to stopping germs from spreading, but there are several other habits you can adopt to eliminate germs and viruses around you.

Keep hand sanitizer on you at all times.

 

Wipe down the surfaces you interact with daily with disinfectant spray or wipes.

 

• Consider getting a washable mattress cover to decrease the amount of dust and germs your mattress is exposed to. 

 

Sizes and prices vary (from 399 – 1,797 EGP)

If you don’t wash your laundry with hot water, add a small amount of disinfectant because most laundry soaps are not antimicrobial.

If you’re outside often or in close contact with a lot of sick people, consider wearing a face mask. A simple surgical mask like the one below has been shown to help protect against flu viruses, but you can also opt for something more secure that also blocks dust and other particles, like this one. 

 

Disclaimer – All prices are accurate and items are in stock at the time of publication.

Was this article helpful? Share your tips and tricks for beating the flu in the comments section.