How To Protect Yourself From The Flu
Want to stay well during the season of sickness? Here’s how to keep yourself and your family healthy.
As you return to work, doesn’t it feel like everyone is talking about how they or a loved one has been sick? You’re not imagining it.
Cases of influenza, or flu, have been high across the country, but particularly in this area. New York State just reported its highest number of flu hospitalizations recorded in a single week, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has classified flu activity in New Jersey as “very high.”
How do you keep yourself and your family safe? Here are some tips.
Keep it clean. Just because this tip is simple doesn’t mean it isn’t vital. Per the CDC, one of the most important was to stop the spread of flu is to wash your hands regularly with soap and warm water, scrubbing for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water aren’t available, reach for alcohol-based hand sanitizer. To further avoid spreading germs, do your best not to touch your eyes, nose and mouth in public places. In addition, wipe down and clean frequently-touched surfaces—desks, doorknobs, countertops, handrails and phones are all good targets.
Avoid contact. You should do your best to stay away from sick people when you’re healthy, and do your best to stay away from healthy people when you’re sick. If you or a loved one is feeling under the weather, it’s best to err on the side of caution and call out from work, skip that social event or keep your child home from school. For flu, the CDC recommends staying home until you haven’t had a fever in 24 hours, or until other symptoms are gone. Consider masking if you need to run to the supermarket or a pharmacy, which will reduce the spread of viruses to others.
Stick to healthy habits. Per the American Red Cross, practicing good habits can boost your body’s resistance to infection. Eating a balanced diet, drinking fluids, daily exercise, managing stress and getting enough sleep at night will keep you and your immune system in fighting shape. In the dry winter, make sure you’re also keeping hand lotion and lip balm close at hand to avoid cracking—your skin is your first line of defense against pathogens.
Get vaccinated. Getting your flu shot is “vital” to not getting sick this time of year, according to the CDC, which also recommends it to everyone ever the age of 6 months (advice that the State of New Jersey echoes). If you don’t have time to swing by your primary care doctor, many local and chain pharmacies offer flu shots, in addition to COVID-19 vaccine boosters.
Want more ways to stay healthy this January, and all year long? Check out the newest issue of BERGEN magazine.
