Danielle Rennard, Staff Writer
As the weather gets colder, germs and illnesses begin to spread more rapidly than normal. It seems as if no matter where you go on campus, people are coughing, sneezing or just look completely miserable from being sick. There are many ways you can avoid colds during flu season and dodge most illnesses. The main key is to keep your hands away from your face.
Each day, a person touches his/her face around three to five times per minute. This creates an easy access route for germs to enter your body through mucous membranes such as your mouth and nose or even your eyes. Throughout the day we touch doorknobs, faucets, handles and thousands of other things that many other people have touched as well. Just by reducing the amount of times you touch your face and the number of things you touch a day, you can greatly decrease your chance of getting sick.
Another way to avoid getting ill is to wash your hands often. Washing your hands frequently for at least 30 seconds with hot water and soap makes a huge difference because it kills germs on the surface of your hands. Also, you should carry around hand sanitizer. It’s very handy to have and very easy to carry around in a purse or bag, or even just to keep in your car or at work. Another thing is to avoid close contact with someone who is sick. Try to keep your distance when having a conversation because germs spread easily through the air when someone who is sick talks, coughs, or sneezes. Furthermore, try to avoid touching their hands because that is where the majority of germs are located.
There are also several other things to do to boost your immune system. The main thing is sleep. A 17- to 20-year-old should be getting between six to nine hours of sleep each night in order to be fully rested and give their body enough time to recuperate. Another factor that helps your immune system is physical activity. Physical activity is beneficial in numerous ways, such as reducing stress. Managing stress is another way to boost your immune system. When you become stressed and overwhelmed, your immune system weakens and you become more susceptible to illnesses. Lastly, drink plenty of water and maintain a healthy diet; many foods have ingredients in them that act as organic immune boosters and give your body more power to avoid catching an illness. These are just a few of the many simple tips there are to help yourself remain healthy and happy.
Although it seems impossible to remain healthy during flu season with so many sick people surrounding you, it is possible. With these simple tips you can avoid catching germs and even spreading them from one place to another. With some extra care and taking the time to wash your hands and being cautious, you can soar right through flu season with no problem at all.
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