Floyd Memorial Hospital & Health Services

With over 200 cold viruses and a handful of flu viruses, prevention is key to protecting you and your family from contracting one of these energy-sucking illnesses. Here are some tips to increase your chances of staying healthy during cold and flu season.

• Stay connected to healthy people – Research shows that more social people are less likely to catch a cold during the holidays.
• Kindly disengage from sick friends and family – While it is important to socialize with healthy people, nicely take a rain check on spending time with those who are ill.
• Sneeze or cough in a tissue – The old adage of “cover your mouth” when you sneeze or cough no longer holds true because you transfer those germs with your hands. Instead, cover your mouth with a tissue, your clothes or in the crook of your arm.
• Make time for exercise, relaxation and shut eye – Fatigue and lack of activity have been shown to increase a person’s risk of contracting a cold or the flu because it decreases a person’s immune system. Do a couple of extra laps around the mall when shopping. Get to bed at a reasonable time and take a few minutes out of every day for “me” time.
• Give pretty soaps or anti-bacterial hand rinse with gifts – Remind your friends and family the importance of washing their hands during the cold and flu season. Attach a tag that says “To Good Health,” and remember to follow your own advice.
• Get vaccinated – Obtaining a flu shot is the best defense against the flu.