GeneralEverything You Need to Prepare for Cold and Flu Season

As the weather gets colder, seasonal viruses will soon be doing the rounds and many people will find themselves ill with a cold or the flu. As autumn gives way to winter, flu activity will begin to peak, particularly between December and February when the weather is at its coldest. Between 3 and 5 million people report severe cold and flu illnesses every year, with symptoms preventing some people from attending work, school and other important commitments.

It can take up to two days for symptoms of a cold or the flu to show themselves, so by then, it will be too late to protect yourself from becoming unwittingly infected. The best way to tackle cold and flu season head-on is to prepare for it before the viruses start to become more active, and you’ll find everything you need to do listed below.

Purchase Hygiene Items

Unfortunately, you can’t control the spread of other people’s germs, but you can take several simple steps to stop them from negatively affecting your health. A small bottle of hand sanitizer goes a long way, killing a high percentage of germs and bacteria before they can be transferred further across your body. To avoid inhaling airborne germs, you could choose to wear a mask over your mouth and nose when out in busy areas. Paper masks can be disposed of straight after use, along with any bacteria on them.

Hand soap is also a household staple that it’s important to stock up on. Washing your hands regularly, especially when you first get home after being out and about, is one of the most effective ways to protect yourself against cold and flu viruses. Keeping at least one packet of tissues on your person at a time will allow you to practice good hygiene around others as well, allowing you to sneeze securely into a tissue and then dispose of it. All these hygiene items are quite cheap and will go a long way in preparing you for the forthcoming spike in cold and flu infections.

Stock Up On Medicine

No matter how hygienic you are, anyone can get infected, so you also need to make provisions for that possibility. Typical cold and flu symptoms include fever, headache, cough, blocked nose, sore throat and muscle aches, with these symptoms becoming more intense and lasting longer if you have the flu. Often, the most persistent symptoms of both are a blocked nose and a cough, for which you should purchase cough medicine, either in the form of lozenges or syrups. For an irritating blocked nose, an inhalant stick or oil will provide much-needed relief from congestion.

Paracetamol is often used to treat headaches and reduce fever, providing relief to your body as illness courses through it, so you should stock up on that. You should also pick up some ibuprofen, which is useful for muscle and other body aches, as well as easing other symptoms of the common cold, such as a sore throat. There are also tablets branded as being specifically cold and flu, which you can purchase in both day (caffeinated) and night (decaffeinated) form.

Get Your Flu Shot

If you’d prefer to take all the preventative options open to you before cold and flu season really takes hold, it’s recommended that you get an annual flu shot. Getting a vaccination will reduce your risk of getting the flu by between 40% and 60%, offering a significant amount of protection at a time when cold and flu germs are widely circulating. If you are trying to get a vaccination in Calgary, go online and search ‘flu shot clinic Calgary‘ to find a local clinic that can help immunize you against the prevalence of bacteria and bugs.

Stay Vigilant

Above all, you need to stay vigilant and look out for your own health. For example, if someone coughs or sneezes near you without covering their mouth, you should sanitize your hands quickly to kill any germs that have got onto them. It’s also recommended that you carry a bottle of water around with you to keep your body hydrated and in a better state to fight off infections. You need to make time for your body to get adequate rest as well, allowing it to recuperate. Just taking extra care of yourself by being vigilant is a great way to prepare your body for cold and flu season this year. Above all else, take care of yourself.

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