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7 Tips For The Flu Season
- FMPW Bloggers
- Jan 22, 2023
- 5 min read
Hello and welcome to FMPW! In this blog, we will be giving some tips on how to stay safe during this flu season! But before we begin, we should get acquainted with our amazing blog writers!
Hello everyone! My name is Nishita and I am a sophomore in high school. I am most passionate about neuroscience and psychology, and they are interdisciplinary. I have always been interested in the new medical advancements and keep myself up with news as much as possible. Writing has always been a source of my creativity, and now I get to write about my favorite topics in medicine and share them with you guys! I hope you guys look forward to reading exciting content from us in the future and keeping yourself updated with the latest medical news!
Hello everyone! My name is Nita and I am a freshman in high school. I am passionate about cardiology, medicine, and biology. I adore writing, so I always use any opportunity to combine it with my passion for medicine. For me, blogging is a way to combine the best of both worlds. I can write about one of the most fascinating fields in which new advancements and research is being made everyday!
Hello everyone! My name is Tammy and I am currently a junior in high school. My passion for medicine continues to expand and I am always excited to continue growing my knowledge! I am particularly passionate about oncology, neurology/neuroscience, cardiology and gastroenterology! I am also interested in learning about drugs and medicine, how they are made and how they work. Being a blog writer, I have always loved writing and getting creative. Writing gives me the chance to express my creativity and just have fun with it. In addition, FMPW allows me to write about one of my favorite topics: health and medicine! I hope you all continue reading our blogs in the future and learn something new each week!
Tips for this Flu Season
As the cold winter persists, the chance to get the flu is dangerously high. So, to make sure everyone stays warm and safe for this flu season, we will share some tips to prevent your chances of getting sick!
1. Stay warm!
Exposing your body to these low temperatures will drastically increase your chances of getting sick, so make sure you are staying warm! Wear a warm and puffy jacket whenever you are going outside, whether you are going to school, work, or anywhere else. If you’re staying home, wrap yourself in a comfortable blanket and take plenty of hot showers or baths as well! This is also the perfect time of year to be drinking hot beverages such as tea, coffee, and (best of all) hot cocoa!
2. Drink tea and honey
According to a study made by BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine, a spoonful of honey in your tea helps decrease the severity of upper respiratory tract infection. Honey is also a safer and a cheaper alternative for antibiotics. According to research published by the Journal of the American Nutrition, green tea has health benefits for illnesses like cancer, heart disease, and liver disease. Many studies have shown that green tea inhibits flu absorption and increases immunity against infections.
3. Make sure to wash your hands
Although this advice has probably been given to you before, it is crucial to wash your hands properly. One recommended way is to follow the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) five steps:
1) Wet your hands (In order to prevent your hands from becoming dry, it's crucial to wet them before using soap.)
2) Get Soap (Make sure you lather the back of your hands and under your nails)
3) Scrub (Scrub for about 20 seconds and use a fun song like "Happy Birthday" or "Twinkle Little Star" if you need to)
4) Rinse your hands well.
5) Dry your hands (Using a clean towel or by air drying).
According to a case-control study article published by the National Library of Medicine, Influenza viruses can infect a person through hand contact. A susceptible individual could possibly contract the virus from the hands of an infected person. This is why it is essential to wash your hands daily. Now that you know how vital it is to wash your hands, you may be asking: When should I wash my hands? According to the Department of Health, you should wash your hands: after using the restroom, after coughing, before and after changing contact lenses, and before and after eating food.
4. Get vaccinated!
No, getting vaccinated is not bad for you! In fact, according to the CDC, Americans have safely received flu vaccines for the last fifty years. Vaccines are important preventive tools, especially for people with chronic illnesses. Getting a vaccine reduces the severity of your symptoms if you happen to catch the flu. It is important to get one every year because the flu viruses are regularly changing, so each year the vaccine might be updated from the previous year. Besides, the side effects that do come with the vaccine are incredibly mild and go away very quickly. And that’s if you even get any side effects! However, some people may experience an allergic reaction when getting a flu shot. If that is the case, make sure to consult a doctor before deciding whether you want to get one.
5. Practice healthy habits
This may seem obvious but there are some people who do not do so. Remember to eat healthy foods that have plenty of vitamins and nutrition! Chicken noodle soup, oranges, and ginger are some of the best foods that can fight off colds! In addition, make sure you are staying active and exercising. According to MedlinePlus, physical activity helps flush out bacteria from your lungs and airway. Exercise can also strengthen the white blood cells in your body, which allows them to be more effective in fighting disease. Now, even though these healthy habits are important to have during the flu season, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t keep these habits going into the future, so make sure you are maintaining a healthy and balanced lifestyle!
6. Cover your mouth when sneezing or coughing
This may seem like another no-brainer, but there are too many people who are not doing this! If you feel the need to cough or sneeze, do so into your elbow. It is not recommended that you cough or sneeze into your hand since you will transmit germs to the things you touch. However, if you do cough into your hand, wash your hands afterwards or use hand sanitiser. It is also advisable to wear a mask. Masks can help reduce the transmission of diseases drastically, so wearing one would be recommended. But, if you choose not to, please properly cover your mouth whenever you are sneezing or coughing.
7. Get plenty of rest
Make sure you are getting plenty of rest! If you are feeling too stressed out, burnt out, or overworked, these feelings could weaken your immune system since you are pushing your body past its limit. So, getting enough sleep is crucial to ensure that you are staying healthy! Even if you can’t or don’t want to go to sleep early, taking plenty of breaks and taking time to do the things you enjoy can be helpful as well.
That’s all we have this week! Make sure you are following these tips so you can prevent your chances of getting sick during the flu season! Also, our courses are beginning soon! If you are interested in learning or expanding your knowledge on Biology, Chemistry, Forensics, or another topic, make sure you are registered for a course on FMPW!
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