Flu is Still Prevalent - Follow these Tips to Keep Healthy

Spring is right around the corner. We’re happily anticipating clear skies, green grass and wildflowers, not to mention warmer weather. But the flu is still prevalent throughout El Dorado County. The best way to combat the flu is through preventive measures.

Follow these tips to help keep you and your family healthy this cold and flu season:

Keep Hands Clean. Hand washing is one of the most important steps in preventing the spread of germs.

Cover up that nose and mouth. Cold and flu viruses can become airborne on droplets of saliva when someone sneezes or coughs. Cover a sneeze or a cough with a tissue. Throw the tissue away after use and wash your hands. If a tissue is not available, cover your mouth and nose with the inside of your elbow.

Avoid touching your face. Cold and flu viruses enter your body through the eyes, nose, or mouth. Touching your face is the major way people catch colds and a key way they pass colds on to others.

Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at home, work or school, especially when someone is ill. Think about high-traffic areas like door-handles, counter tops, phones, computers, and bathroom surfaces. It is helpful to have disinfecting wipes on hand so you can keep those germs away when you are on the go.

Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Stay home if you are sick to prevent spreading your illness.

Do aerobic exercise regularly. Exercise is known to help increase the body’s natural virus-killing cells. So bundle up and take a walk to the park.

Eat Healthy Foods. Choose foods packed with phytochemicals. Go for the deepest-colored fruits and veggies you can find: blueberries, tomatoes, spinach, sweet potatoes…the more color in the food, the more immune-boosting power it has.