Cold waves, indoor social gatherings and the return of a Christmas marked by mobility and meetings with family. This is the cocktail by which year after year we reach the first weeks of winter with a high incidence of respiratory infections, such as flu, RSV or covid. Keeping our immune system safe from viruses and bacteria is a real challenge for our health.
Luckily, there are a series of good practices to try to avoid colds and prevent respiratory pathologies typical of this time of year. Below, we give you 6 recommendations with which, although they are not an infallible tactic, you will be able to rearm your defenses and make it more difficult for the pathogens that threaten our well-being.
This is one of the issues that we learned from the pandemic and that we should never have abandoned. Hand washing is one of the simplest and most effective measures to prevent contact infections. It is essential to wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after being in public spaces. We can complement this action with the use of a disinfectant gel when finishing.
Closely related to the above, it is recommended to avoid touching your face when shopping or traveling on public transport until you have washed your hands. Viruses enter the body through small droplets that come into contact with our eyes, nose or mouth, hence the importance of hand hygiene.
Likewise, it is necessary to take certain precautions when coughing or sneezing, especially if we have people around us. Always try to cover your nose and mouth with a disposable tissue, or with your elbow as we learned during the pandemic, to avoid the dispersion of those respiratory droplets that could contain viruses.
If we have any symptoms of respiratory infection - cough, runny nose, fever - it is best to avoid direct contact with other people, especially if they belong to vulnerable groups, to avoid spread. Likewise, if a person with these symptoms considers visiting us, it is best to postpone the meeting and restrict contacts to our closest circle. It is also advisable to avoid crowds, but, if we have no other choice but to go out, let us always do so with a mask as long as the epidemic continues.
At home, adequate ventilation of the spaces must be ensured to reduce the possible concentration of viruses in the environment. You can use an air quality meter to put your mind at ease. Of course, be careful with currents and temperature changes!
Eating a healthy, balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables will help you strengthen your defenses. Food, along with regular exercise and a good rest, are the best antidotes to flu and colds.
If you have not done so yet and, above all, if you belong to a risk group, it is advisable to get vaccinated annually against flu and covid. Vaccines help make symptoms milder if you contract the disease.
