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From our colleagues to our commuter mates, everyone seems to be
sniffling and sneezing and complaining of not feeling well this
time of year. So, we asked a doctor for tips on how not to catch
what's going around and to stay healthy.
Here's what Dr. Nikita Patel, family physician at Women's College Hospital in
Toronto, says to do:
Getting the flu shot and choosing a healthy lifestyle are your first lines of defence
against cold and flu. Strengthen your immune system with the following
strategies.
1) Get the flu shot as early as you can. Influenza can affect everyone, but children
under five and adults 65 years and older, especially, are more at risk from
developing complications, such as pneumonia.
2)Wash your hands often with warm soapy water; clean and disinfect surfaces
and shared items.
3)Manage stress and aim for a good night's sleep of seven to nine hours. Stress
and poor-quality sleep can weaken your immune system, leaving you more prone
to infections.
4)Stay hydrated and limit or avoid diuretics, such as coffee and alcohol.
Get outside to reduce your time spent in recirculated air.
5)If you do get sick, don't tough it out: Stay at home, rather than risk infecting
others.
