Cold and Flu Season is Almost Here, Are You Ready?

The clocks have been turned back, the leaves are falling, and the temperature is dropping. This means cold and flu season is quickly approaching. The changing of the seasons always has some sort of impact on people, and going from early fall to now is usually when people start getting colds. There are numerous preventative measures that can be taken to combat getting sick.
Wash your Hands Frequently
As we all know, the spread of germs will cause you to get sick. To help prevent any type of illness it is highly recommended to wash your hands often. This doesn’t mean you have to be scared to touch anything, but be sure you wash your hands throughout the day. According to The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) about 80% of all infectious diseases are transmitted by touch and the best protection from this is washing your hands frequently. Your hands are the quickest way for germs to spread, and that is why washing them often will kill illness-causing germs to help prevent diseases from spreading.
Avoid Touching Your Face
Along with regularly washing your hands, it is advised to try and not touch your face. Most cold viruses enter your body through your eyes, mouth, or nose. There have been studies that concluded that the average person will touch their face at least 4 times an hour. This means you could easily touch an object covered in germs and transfer those germs to yourself, which could get you sick. Many people touch their faces without noticing it, but you need to make a conscious effort to try and avoid doing so.
Get Enough Sleep
It is very important for your health to make sure you get enough sleep every night. Allowing your body to sleep 6-8 hours per night helps build up your immune system, which can help you stay healthy. Many people do not get enough sleep, but it is important to make time to rest. In fact, I have experienced getting sick due to lack of sleep and I can tell you it wasn’t fun, so try to get enough sleep.
Exercise
Exercising regularly helps build your immune system and can aid in cold and flu prevention. With regular exercise, you increase certain disease fighting immune system cells from 50% to 300%. This means that your immune system is working very efficiently and will more than likely keep you from getting sick. However you choose to exercise is personal preference, but make sure you get at least three 30 minute workouts in per week. Not only will you remain healthy because you workout, but your mood will improve and you will feel better.
Maintain a Proper Diet
Eating well can have a big impact on how often you get sick. If you eat a balanced diet, you will get the proper nutrients you need to maintain your health. The old adage “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” is very common because eating fruits (and vegetables) is good for you. If you eat more junk food than you should, I’m sure that you would get sick more often than someone who eats healthy. Now I’m not saying you need to just eat salads, but you should watch what you eat because food plays a vital role in how you feel.
Although people don’t normally think about getting sick, this is the time of year to try and prevent it to keep yourself as healthy as possible. Another thing people don’t normally think about is their insurance.
Contact the professionals at Ion Insurance today for an individualized quote suited for your specific needs.