Protecting yourself from disease and infection is particularly important during the fall and winter when common illnesses like flu and colds are more prevalent. Then, before you head into the colder months of the year, here are some of the top steps that you can take to prevent yourself from feeling under the weather.
Take Your Pet to the Vet
Although your pet can bring you a lot of joy and even boost your mental health, it is important to realize that your pets can also present a health hazard to their owners. One of the major ways that they do this is that they can carry pests into your home, such as fleas and ticks, and these are both a summer and a winter problem. Not only this, but muddy paws can also bring bacteria into your home, while cats can carry a parasite called toxoplasmosis, which can cause birth defects and blindness. One of the best ways to stay healthy when you own a pet is to take your pet to a vet, such as those at easyvet.com, as they will be able to check your pet for disease and prevent fleas and other pests from living on them.
Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle
However, the best way to prevent illness is to maintain a healthy lifestyle, including ample exercise and a balanced diet. Not only can eating well and exercising lower your risk of contracting certain medical issues, such as heart disease and some cancers, but it can also boost your immune system. This is because eating healthily will allow your body to get the nutrients that it needs, such as protein, while exercise can help disease-fighting white blood cells to circulate more quickly around your body. You should also cut down on bad habits like smoking and drinking too much alcohol.
Boost Personal Hygiene
Whatever you are planning to do this winter, you can protect yourself from most diseases by maintaining great personal hygiene. For instance, you should wash every day and make sure that you wash your hands when you are out and about- and especially before eating. You should also cut your nails and look after your teeth by flossing your teeth and brushing them twice a day to prevent infection, which could spread to other parts of your body.
Stay Away from Sick People
Although this is not always possible, staying away from sick people can help prevent you from contracting their illness. If you do have to go near sick people, for instance, if you are at work, you should consider opening a window or ensuring that you are in a well-ventilated space.
Take Supplements
You might begin to see the sun less often throughout the coming months, which means that you will miss out on certain vitamins. Then, you should consider taking vitamin D supplements which could help to boost your immune system, as well as vitamin C and minerals like zinc.
Get Vaccinated
One of the best ways that you can teach your body to protect you from disease, though, is to get vaccinated. Getting vaccinated can ensure that you are giving your body the tools to protect itself from common winter infections, such as flu and, in 2021, COVID-19.
