Flu Prevention Tips

The best way to avoid catching the flu is to get the flu vaccine. But you already know that.

What you might not know yet is that the flu vaccine doesn’t work as a 100% effective shield against catching the flu. It’s the best form of protection available and it decreases the risks of complications if you do catch the flu, but it’s not the only tool at your disposal.

None of the flu prevention tips below should replace heading over to a nearby pharmacy or hospital for that flu shot, but they can give you a little added protection to get through this flu season.

1. Wash your hands regularly.

Influenza’s a virus that spreads through particles in the air that often settle in inconvenient places. You never really know where those places are, so many of the things you touch are suspect.

Lest that sound too terrifying, an easy way to minimize the risks that come with touching a surface or object that carries influenza germs is simply to make a habit out of regular hand washing. Whenever you have access to soap and a sink, wash up.

2. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.

This one goes hand in hand with #1. Getting some unwanted germs on your hands is a problem easily solved, unless you touch your face sometime before you get around to washing your hands.

Most of us tend to touch our faces a lot throughout the day without thinking about it – rubbing our eyes, scratching our nose, or wiping our mouth. Make an effort to be aware of it when it happens so you can stop yourself. If you can keep those germs from spreading to the most vulnerable parts of your body, you greatly reduce your flu risk.

3. Keep your living areas clean.

There’s a pretty simple solution to keep from allowing most of the surfaces and objects in your life to become a risk: keep them clean. Regularly disinfect the tables, countertops, computer keyboards, and other main surfaces and items you encounter daily and you won’t have to worry as much about getting those germs on your hands to begin with.

You don’t have the power to make sure every surface and item you encounter in public is clean, but you can at least minimize the risk in your own home.

4. Stay healthy.

This is a tip that encompasses several other tips. You want to keep your immune system as strong as possible and the way to do that is to follow all that advice you’ve heard a thousand times before: get lots of sleep, exercise, eat a diet heavy on healthy fruits and vegetables, and drink lots of water.

Of course, the benefits of this last tip go far beyond helping with flu prevention. If you follow these suggestions, you’ll just generally feel better and ward off other illnesses as well.

If you do get the flu, see your doctor as soon as possible to start treating it so it doesn’t get any worse. And keep up the healthy habits recommended here to heal faster.

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Kristen Hicks

Kristen Hicks is an Austin-based copywriter and lifelong student with an ongoing curiousity to learn and explore new things. She turns that interest to researching and exploring subjects helpful to seniors and their families for SeniorAdvisor.com.