Simple Tips For Avoiding the Flu
Flu season is officially upon us and experts predict this to be one of the worst in recent history. While many people get the flu every few years and recover relatively uneventfully, others suffer serious complications from the flu. In some instances, the flu can even be fatal. If you are concerned about contracting the virus, read on to find out five simple tips to avoiding the flu:
1. Stay Hydrated
Maintaining proper hydration is vital for so many aspects of your health. Being well-hydrated keeps your organs functioning properly, increases your energy, improves your metabolism, and aids indigestion. It’s also important for keeping your immune system in peak function. Dehydration makes your body weaker and more susceptible to infections like the flu. This is why doctors recommend drinking at least 64 ounces of water per day to avoid the flu. If you do get sick, increase your hydration to even more than 64 ounces to help your body get over the flu quicker.
2. Avoid People Who Are Sick
This one may seem silly or somewhat obvious, but we must emphasize its importance. If you know someone who has the flu, try to steer clear of them until it has passed. (Unless they are your family member or someone whom you are a caretaker for.) Allow someone with the flu to stay to themselves until they are no longer contagious. Not only will this spare you of the illness – it will also spare the people whom you may spread it to.
3. Wash Your Hands Frequently
This is another one that may seem silly, but it has to constantly be stated. If you want to avoid the flu, wash your hands often. From money to door knobs to elevator buttons, everything you touch throughout the day has bacteria on it. You never know who may have touched something and what bacteria they left behind. This is why it is so important to wash your hands frequently with antibacterial soap.
4. Take Vitamin C Supplements
Vitamin C is a great way to boost your immune health and make you less susceptible to the flu. The only problem is that most people do not get enough Vitamin C naturally in their diets. For this reason, you should take a Vitamin C supplement. These supplements often contain more than 100% of your daily recommended amount of Vitamin C, giving your immune system to kickstart that it needs to fend off the flu.
5. Get A Flu Shot
Finally, the best way to prevent the flu is to get a flu shot. The flu shot does not cover every strain of the flu, but it does prevent the most common strains of the virus. Visit your nearest pharmacy of your primary care physician as soon as possible and ask them about getting a flu shot. The vaccine is usually quick and painless, and it will give you peace of mind when it comes to worrying about the flu.
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