By Shelly Reese
SmartHealthToday
It’s that time of the year. The cold weather has driven everyone indoors and that close contact puts us as risk.
How can you protect yourself against the flu and other illnesses?
Dr. Meghan Markovich, an internist with St. Elizabeth Physicians’ Hebron office suggests three important steps:
Get a flu shot. The single best way to prevent seasonal flu is get vaccinated every year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends them for people over the age of 6 months.
Don’t touch your eyes, nose and mouth. The mucous membranes of your eyes, nose and mouth are the gateway by which respiratory and gastro-intestinal illnesses enter the body. Touching those mucous membranes with a contaminated finger increases your likelihood of getting sick, so keep your hands away from your face.
Wash your hands. The CDC says handwashing is like a “do-it-yourself” vaccine. That can reduce the spread to diarrhea and respiratory illnesses. Wash your hands when they are dirty and before eating, and do not cough or sneeze into your hands. Wash for at least 15-20 seconds (that’s about how long it takes to sing “Happy Birthday”).
“Following these guidelines can not only help your family stay healthier this winter, but also keep illnesses from spreading around the community,” Markovich says.
Remember, if you get sick, don’t share. Stay home and avoid close contact with others. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and wash your hands frequently.
SmartHealthToday is a service of St. Elizabeth Healthcare.