Catching a cold or influenza is nothing to sneeze at. Aside from the discomfort of repeated sneezing or having sore throat and nasal co...
Catching a cold or influenza
is nothing to sneeze at. Aside from the discomfort of repeated sneezing or
having sore throat and nasal congestion, you may also
experience exhaustion, muscle soreness, chills, and headaches. While the
infection usually lasts for a week or two, it can get in
the way of your daily activities.
“A cold is typically mild while flu may result
in serious health problems, like pneumonia. Although these viral
infections are highly contagious, there are ways to
prevent getting infected and to recover quickly if you have them,” says Dr.
Nicky Montoya, president of MediCard Philippines.
To prevent cold and flu
infections and recover easily:
Wash your hands with soap and water often. It may
sound cliché but hand washing is scientifically proven to prevent viral
infections. Your hands touch a countless number of germ-infected objects every
day, but these germs can be easily killed by washing your hands with soap and
water. If water and soap are not available, you can use alcohol or
alcohol-based hand sanitizer as an alternative.
practice good hygiene, keep hand sanitizers handy |
Always practice good hygiene. Keep
yourself and your surroundings clean all the time. Refrain from touching your mouth
and nose without washing your hands thoroughly first. When you’re going out in
public, bring hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes for cleaning surfaces you
need to touch. As much as possible, do not share your eating utensils and
drinking cups with other people.
Follow a healthy lifestyle. Healthy
living is important in building a strong immune system. This includes eating a well-balanced diet, getting enough rest and
exercise and abstaining from alcohol, tobacco and substance abuse. Vitamin
supplements can also provide the nutrients you may
be lacking. Taking vitamin
C before
the onset of a cold is
said to shorten the
duration of cold symptoms.
Get vaccinated. Vaccines are one of the
safest ways to prevent flu infection. It is best to get flu shots once a year,
especially before the start of the flu season. Also, your immunity decreases
over time and flu viruses are constantly changing so it is recommended to get
regularly vaccinated to protect yourself from new strains.
Get regular medical check-ups. While
over-the-counter antiviral medicines can relieve symptoms, it is best to get
medical advice before self-medicating. Doctors can recommend the best treatment
for your sickness based on your lifestyle, medical history and physical needs.
They can also provide you more tips on sidestepping sickness and staying
healthy all year long.
“No one is invincible from
cold and flu infections, but by practicing good hygiene and healthy habits, you
can survive the cold and flu season unscathed,” says Dr. Montoya.
MediCard has satellite and
free-standing clinics located in major cities nationwide that offers quality
consultations and other medical services.
For more information, visit http://medicardphils.com
and Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/medicard.philippines.