We Bet You Didn’t Know These Things Could Help Keep Flu at Bay

A runny nose, coughing, sneezing, and headache might seem like nightmares chasing after you, especially during cold nights. These symptoms of the common flu can make you lose focus and disrupt your daily tasks, whether at work or home. But fortunately, you can easily avoid the flu with a few easy tricks.

emedihealth | Flu symptoms include a runny nose, coughing, sneezing, and headache

It is a common belief that getting flu shots, staying hygienic, and avoiding irritants is enough to keep flu away, but this might not be entirely true. There are several other tiny things you can do to maintain your distance from health bugs and viruses.

Read – Do I Have the Flu?

Exercise

Engaging in moderate exercise from 30 to 60 minutes a day helps boost the production of white blood cells, enhancing the body’s immune response. If your immune system is at its best, bacteria, infections, and viruses stay away.

Get enough sleep

Sleeping less than seven to nine hours a day makes your body more susceptible to diseases. Studies show that getting adequate sleep is an essential part of maintaining overall health. Hence, when you see the clock ticking to extremely late hours, switch off your gadgets, and get some shut-eye.

Eat healthy

Fruits and vegetables contain antioxidants that help keep the immune system healthy. According to a study, flavonoids in plants, apples, and berries can protect you from flu and other infection triggers.

Unsplash | In addition to other things, exercising, properly sleeping, and eating healthy can help avoid flu

Stay positive

Stress has quite a negative impact on the immune system. It increases the cortisol levels in the body and puts it on a high alert state. As a result, our heart rate and blood pressure rise above normal, leading to a decline in the body’s immune function. Therefore, we become more vulnerable to bacterial and viral infections and get sick easily. Staying happy and positive is thus the best way to ward off health issues.

Stay hydrated

Water is an essential ingredient for your body, and maintaining body moisture helps boost your body’s ability to fight infection. So try to drink at least eight glasses of water a day.

Read – Why Is Water Important?

And of course, clean the surfaces you touch frequently

Surfaces that are frequently used, such as doorknobs, remote controls, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and lighting switches, should be cleaned with antiseptic wipes at regular intervals. Things like the kitchen sponge, which is generally a germ-magnet, should be microwaved for about 2 minutes a day to rid it of microorganisms.

Unsplash | In addition to maintaining self-hygiene, ensure you keep your surroundings clean

To wrap it up

The tips mentioned above won’t take a lot of time to complete, but they will save you several days of the recovery you might have to go through if you fall sick. Not only for staying away from flu, but these pointers are also useful for maintaining good health in general, so take them as general rules to live smart.