Stay Healthy During Flu & Cold Season

Along with the coolness of the fall and autumn leaves comes flu and cold season. Let’s make this season your best year yet by enjoying the cool weather and beauty without having colds or the flu.

The flu is a respiratory infection caused by the influenza virus. With the ability to come on very suddenly, it is usually spread from person to person by moist droplets that have been coughed or sneezed and can also be picked up off of surfaces where the droplets have landed. While flu symptoms include high fever, headache, weakness, cough, sore throat, and muscle aches, the cold is milder. It has a slower onset and usually causes a runny nose, sore throat, congestion, sneezing and coughing.

While the flu and colds present a challenge to our immune system, there are many preventive and therapeutic tools readily available to us that can help lessen the burden of dealing with these two invaders. So just how do you decrease your chances of getting the flu or cold? Your best bet is to stay healthy and wash your hands often. But how do we stay healthy? We follow the eight laws of health:

1. WATER: We need at least 8 to 10 8oz glasses of fresh water daily. Water keeps us well hydrated and helps flush out unwanted toxins.
2. SLEEP: We need at least 6 to 8 hours of quality sleep daily. Sleep helps rejuvenate the body.
3. EXERCISE: We need at least 30 minutes of exercise 3 to 4 days a week, but daily exercise is the preferable. It can be as simple as taking a 30 minute walk. Exercise has many benefits. It can decrease your chances of cancer and help stabilize your blood sugars, plus it releases good hormones that make us feel great. Who doesn’t want to feel great?!
4. DIET: Eat a variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains and nuts. Decrease or cut out sugary foods, soda pops and sugary drinks, and starchy vegetables. By doing this and eating more lean meat, you can help keep your weight under control.
5. SPIRITUALITY: This is a key to help us stay well-rounded. Each person’s spiritual life is different; therefore individuals must choose their path for spiritual growth.
6. FRESH AIR: We all need to get plenty of fresh air, whether is it is going outdoors or letting fresh air into our homes, which helps with unwanted germs.
7. SUNLIGHT: The sun is also very important to our health, and getting 10 to 15 minutes of sun per day helps keep our vitamins D levels up. Keeping your vitamin D optimal levels help decrease the chances of getting the flu or a cold. If you don’t get out in the sun much, supplementing with vitamin D3 will help keep your levels where they should be.
8. TEMPERANCE: We need to do all things in moderation to help with our overall health.

Along with following the eight laws of health, it is also important to avoid transmission of a cold or the flu. A few ways to avoid this can be to covering our coughs or sneezes with a tissue, refrain drinking after others or kissing someone that has symptoms of a cold or flu. Keeping the surfaces in your home clean will also help in prevention, as anyone that has the symptoms will be touching areas that the virus can live on for several hours. When out shopping, use alcohol wipes to wipe down shopping cart handles and use alcohol based hand sanitizer after leaving the shopping area. Wash your hands before eating and avoid touching your eyes, mouths and noses with your hands.

Another option that can help decrease the chances of getting the cold or the flu is picking up one of the many supplements at the Riordan Clinic Supplement Store. Vitamin D3, vitamin A, and zinc are just a few of the supplements that we have here at the Clinic that help us maintain health and avoid illness.

If you are interested in learning more about flu and cold prevention and/or reaching optimal health, call the Riordan Clinic today at 316-682-3100 to make an appointment with a Riordan Clinic doctor.