Every year at about this time seniors experience the scratchy throats, sniffles, and coughs associated with the cold and flu season. Most of the time there’s no way of telling how or where the virus was picked up or how long it will last.
The important thing to understand, when we begin to experience these unwanted maladies is what we may experience and how we can minimize the impact.
First and foremost, we must realize that the healthy lifestyle we have worked to maintain throughout the year needs to continue in order for us to help cut the time it takes to overcome these viral culprits.
Since the cold and flu are both respiratory illnesses that share so many symptoms, it’s often hard to tell which illness you may have been infected with. One of the best ways to tell that you’re experiencing a cold rather than the flu is to simply be aware of the intensity of the symptoms and their duration. If you have a cold the physical symptoms will be less intense than with the flu virus. And, since the average cold only lasts 7 – 10 days, within a week you’ll know and be better able to prepare for the rest of the season.
We know that as we age our bodies change and these changes include our immune systems slowing down. Fortunately, one of the things we can do to help our immune system fight these unforgiving viruses is to eat a balanced diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins. A healthy diet will help ward off the offending viruses while keeping our immune systems strong.
A big part of ridding ourselves of these menacing viruses or completely avoiding them is to keep our hands as clean as possible. Washing them before touching our face or rubbing our eyes will help to minimize the risks.
Another way to help avoid catching these menacing viruses is to avoid people who already have the symptoms of a cold or flu. Sometimes the best remedy is avoidance when it comes to associating with someone that is infected.
If it’s impossible to evade the infected person then always clean and disinfect the areas the person has visited. Remember, at the first sign of infection, be sure to get plenty of rest, drink a lot of fluids and eat a nutritious diet. If the symptoms last longer than ten days or you have a fever of over 100.4 degrees contact your team at Be Well MD.
Savvy seniors can avoid health issues this sneezin’ season by simply taking a few easy precautions to help avoid being miserable.
As we prepare for the colder temperatures, enjoy this wonderful Fall weather.