health
You have a cold, maybe an annoying cough. But what if you can’t call in sick and you have to be at work? Read on...
Maybe you have got a big deadline at work. Or perhaps your long-planned dream vacation is just around the corner. No matter what’s ahead on your calendar, one thing is clear: you can’t afford to let a cold or the flu slow you down. With the following natural preventive measures, take control of your flu and cold, and saving your time and money spent feeling under the weather...
Wash your hands — a lot: Washing hands often - and drying them on disposable paper towels (or laundering hand towels regularly) - can significantly reduce the chances of catching a virus.
There’s no mystery about how cold and flu viruses spread. Someone who’s sick and sneezes in his hand and then touches the telephone, the keyboard, or a kitchen glass, can pick up the germ when he/she after touching that object, even hours later. So wash your hands often. If you can’t get to a sink, rub them with a hand sanitiser.
Cough and sneeze into your elbow: Instead of covering your cough with your hand, turn your head and cough into your elbow, which will sequester a virus just as well. Your elbow, however, is far less likely than your hands to come in contact with people or surfaces.
Sanitise your office space: Clean everything that gets touched by lots of people - microwaves, fax-machine keys, doorknobs, elevator buttons, the armrests of a chair - with a good disinfectant at least once a week, even if it looks clean. It’s just basic hygiene. Rhinoviruses can live on surfaces for up to 48 hours.
Start juicing: Drink. Sip water, juice, broth, and other clear liquids all day. Staying hydrated helps your immune system fight sickness. It can also help loosen mucus and replace fluids you lose from blowing your nose. Keep a healthy supply of drinks right at your desk.
Sip tea: Drink hot black or green tea with lemon and honey. Any warming drink can help soothe a sore throat, suppress a cough, and calm the overall commotion of a cold or flu. Honey coats the throat and relieves irritation while its antioxidant and antimicrobial properties go to work fighting viral infections.
Get a protein fix: Make sure to eat plenty of protein as this keeps the body strong and healthy. Research shows that diets that are too low in protein can deplete the immune system. So make sure to get protein-rich foods throughout the day, especially fish, eggs and yogurt. A diet rich in fruit and vegetables can help you avoid many health problems. In addition, avoid refined sugar as much as possible as this can interfere with both digestion and the immune system.
Zinc, garlic and vitamin C: The mineral zinc is essential to help fight colds and provide a boost to a flagging immune system. Good food sources include meat, oysters, eggs, seafood, tofu, black- eyed peas and wheat germ.
Zinc and Vitamin C make a great cold-busting duo. Vitamin C is an absolute powerhouse regarding its ability to promote better immune system function. On the other hand, garlic helps ease chest complaints and small amounts taken daily may also reduce the frequency of colds and flu.
Relieve your pain: Over-the-counter acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or naproxen bring down a fever and help with aches. Other over-the-counter cold remedies can be helpful, too. But you should know that while they can make you feel a bit better, they won’t shorten how long you’re sick. Some cold medicines have pain relievers in them, too, so you could accidentally take more than you need. Read labels first, and try not to use more than one medication at a time.
Use a saline spray to help a stuffy nose. It helps congestion by loosening mucus and rinsing your sinuses.
Don’t smoke: Heavy smokers get more severe and frequent colds. Even being around smoke hurts the immune system, your body’s defence against germs. Smoke dries out the passages in your nose. It affects your cilia - the delicate hairs that line your nose and lungs and help sweep away cold and flu viruses. Experts say just one cigarette can stop them from working for as long as 30 to 40 minutes. Smoking cigarettes also depletes the levels of vitamin C, which we all know is incredibly important for immune function!
Relax: After work, go home and get a good meal - try chicken soup. Then, get in bed! When you’re sick, your body needs rest and sleep. There’s evidence that your immune system revs up when you de-stress. Research shows that our bodies need seven to eight hours of sleep in order to stimulate an immune response from our ‘natural killer cells,’ which attack viruses.
While you rest or sleep, run a clean humidifier or a cool-mist vaporizer in your room. It can ease stuffiness and help you breathe better.
Get plenty of exercise
Exercise helps to boost circulation which makes it easier for immune cells to get around the whole body, searching out viruses. It also stimulates the lymphatic system which helps to eliminate toxins and waste. Why not combine this with the previous tips, and exercise outside instead of in the germ-filled gym? The combination of fresh air and exercise will do wonders for preventing colds and flu!