It’s that time of year again. The days are shorter and colder, and we're stuck inside most of the time. And, unfortunately, it's cold and flu season.
It’s not usually the cold air that makes us sick, it’s being cooped up indoors.
“Spending more time indoors in close contact with other people makes it easier to spread viruses and bacteria,” said Patricia Jackson, APRN, a family medicine provider with Endeavor Health. “Dry air can make us more likely to catch an infection as well.”
Not only that, one study found cold air can lower our immunity by killing off helpful virus-fighting bacteria in the nose.
There are some habits to help you stay well this winter and prevent the spread of illness. Discuss these with your family and especially children, as well as their caregivers.
- Avoid close contact. Stay away from people who are sick. When you are sick, stay home when needed, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.
- Clean your hands. Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. Be sure to lather your hands with soap and scrub them for at least 20 seconds, then rinse under running water.
- Don’t touch your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are often spread when a person touches a surface or object that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose or mouth. “Don’t cover a cough with your hand,” Jackson said. “Use a tissue, your elbow or your sleeve.”
- Clean and disinfect. Clean high-touch surfaces regularly, including doorknobs, light switches, handles, phones, keyboards and faucets.
- Get a flu shot. Anyone 6 months old and older should have a flu shot, but especially pregnant women, people age 65 and older, and those with chronic medical conditions such as asthma, heart disease or diabetes. There’s also a high-dose shot for people 65 and older because our immune system weakens as we age.
- Get a COVID-19 shot. The 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine is also recommended for everyone 6 months old and older. “Vaccines may not prevent you from getting exposed to the virus. However, they do provide immunity that can clear the virus, making it less likely you’ll get infected,” Jackson said. “The COVID-19 vaccine also greatly reduces the chance of severe illness requiring hospitalization or resulting in death.”
- Practice other good health habits. Get enough sleep, be physically active, stay hydrated and eat well. A well-rested person who eats nutritious food and gets regular exercise will have a stronger immune system.
Be vigilant and you’ll get through this winter with minimal discomfort.
