Lying in bed sick with the flu is a miserable experience for anyone, but it is especially hard on senior citizens. The best thing to do is to avoid likely contaminants whenever possible. Health care professionals all have their own ideas, but there are some common denominators.
Get plenty of sleep/rest. Studies have shown that getting less than seven hours of sleep each night lowers the immune system. Exposure to germs just adds to the problem.
Drink liquids. Dehydration messes with the immune system. Drink at least 8 large glasses of water daily.
Wash your hands. Bacteria are easily spread through hand-to-hand contact. Use soap and very warm water for 30 seconds before rinsing. Be sure to wash your hands before eating, after shopping, after handling pets and pet food and supplies.
Keep your hands away from your face. This will prevent the spread of germs from your hands to your mouth or eyes.
Watch your diet. Eat healthy foods that work on the immune system, such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Take vitamins as recommended by your physician.
Manage stress. Stress lowers the immune system, making you susceptible to illness. Look for stress-relievers that work for you. Yoga works for some, as does Tai Chi. Others prefer more energetic pursuits, like Zumba, pilates, or gym work-outs.
Clean general surfaces. Use alcohol wipes, Clorox wipes, or something similar to wipe off doorknobs, computer keyboards, telephones, light switch plates, etc. I use Clorox wipes on all surfaces in our bathrooms. I also use a sanitizer on kitchen counters and appliance handles. With cats in the house, I can’t be certain a kitty won’t cruise my counters when I’m not looking.
Carry a hand sanitizer with you. These come in handy, small sizes so that you can access them throughout the day when you must handle potentially contagious items. When we shop at Walmart, we always use one of the hand wipes in the container near the entrance, upon entering to clean off the cart handle and when we leave to clean our hands.
Don’t smoke and reduce alcohol consumption. Alcohol compromises the immune system, and we all know what cigarette smoke does to our lungs.
Get a flu shot! The flu vaccine is the best way to prevent infection from flu viruses.
Logically speaking, it is unlikely that any of us will practice all those good habits all of the time. But the more effort we make to avoid germs, especially during flu season, the better off we are. Influenza can be deadly for seniors and those with compromised immune systems.
