A report from the Center of Disease Control indicated that the average person gets the common cold virus 2-3 times per year; especially within the fall and winter seasons.
What precautions can you take in order to avoid the cold virus?
#1 Keep it clean, and wash your hands
Remembering to wash your hands throughout the day can be very effective when preventing sickness. The Center of Disease control claims that scrubbing your hands for 20 seconds is the best way to kill bacteria.
In order to get fully clean hands, scrub fingers and underneath finger nails. Bacteria can build up under fingernails, which can result to sickness.
#2 A good nights rest
Maintaining a healthy sleep schedule improves chances of not getting the cold virus. When your body is rested and recharged, it will receive the energy it needs to fight off germs. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NIH), confesses that sleep improves your overall health.
By losing 1-2 hours of needed sleep, the human body in unable to function to its fullest ability. The NIH declares that children, aged 6-12 years need 9-12 hours a night, teenagers need 8-12 hours and adults 18 years or older require 7-8 hours.
#3 Exercise
By keeping your body moving, white blood cell circulation occurs. These blood cells act as disease fighters and allow the body to fight the common cold. Staying active can also benefit the body long-term by maintaining a healthy heart. As little as 30 minutes a day of movement allows the body to maintain good circulation.
#4 Healthy diet
Clean eating can be tough but very beneficial to the body when fighting off viruses. Fruits and vegetables provide different vitamins that help boost the body’s immune system. Blueberries are packed with antioxidants and oranges host vitamin C; both are very nourishing to the body when resisting sickness. Staying hydrated will always contribute to the body’s immune system.
#5 Contact
A great way to avoid getting sick is to simply avoid contact with people that already have the cold virus. Be mindful when touching your eyes, mouth and nose. Bacteria from hands can spread and eventually cause sickness when exposed to those three major areas. Refrain from getting too close; avoid hugging, shaking hands or even kissing others.
Providing your body with the best care will ultimately help avoid viruses this upcoming season. Taking necessary precautions can help not only you, but others to stay healthy and avoid the common cold.