5 Healthy Habits to Help Protect Yourself This Flu Season

5 Healthy Habits to Help Protect Yourself This Flu Season

School is in full swing, football has begun, and the weather is starting to get cooler. Along with all the great things about fall and winter come some not so great things, like flu season. The 2020 flu season is sure to be a bit different than recent years, as many flu and cold symptoms are also signs of the coronavirus. That’s all the more reason to protect yourself from getting sick this year. There are several ways you can keep yourself and your family safe during flu season. Here is how to prevent the flu with five healthy habits.

1. Clean Your Hands

This is one thing we probably don’t even need to tell you in the 2020 flu season. You have likely already been washing your hands frequently since March. This classic piece of advice on how to prevent the flu is repeated because it is so effective. Make sure to wash your hands with soap for at least 20 seconds in order to kill all the viruses and germs that may be lurking there. Hand sanitizer is good substitute, but don’t try to use it to clean visible dirt from your fingers. There’s no substitute for good old soap and water when it comes to grimy hands.

2. Don’t Touch Your Face

This is another tip that’s been around long before flu season due to the pandemic, but it is still true. Keeping your hands away from your nose, eyes, and mouth as much as possible is a great way to keep germs away. This means coughing and sneezing into your elbow, a tissue, or a mask instead of your hands.

3. Stay Away From Sick People

If you know someone who has the flu, do not visit them until they are symptom-free for at least a few days. If you end up catching the flu, stay home as much as possible to prevent it from spreading to others. The social distancing that helps slow the spread of the coronavirus works for the flu, too. If you have to go out and you still feel sick, stay six feet away from others.

4. Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle

One way to get through flu season healthy is to live a healthy lifestyle year-round. It is important to drink plenty of water, eat nutritious foods, exercise, and get enough sleep at all times of the year. People who follow these healthy habits are less likely to get sick with the common cold or flu. Managing stress is also an important in preventing the flu, as mental health is closely connected to physical health.

5. Get a Flu Shot

If you are wondering how to prevent the flu, this is the ultimate answer. Getting a flu shot every flu season is the single best way to prevent yourself from getting sick. There are many different types of flu viruses, and the predominant strain changes from year to year. This is why it is important to get a flu shot every year. You will then be immune to the newest and most popular variation of the sickness.

Need a Flu Shot, or Already Caught the Flu?

Whether you are looking to prevent sickness this flu season or are already coming down with something, BASS Medical Group can help. They provide physicals, vaccinations, and routine care for the whole family. Trust BASS Medical Group with your health this 2020 flu season. Visit them online or call (925) 350-4044 to schedule an appointment today.