Colds and the flu are caused by viruses that spread from person to person.
Try these simple steps to help keep you and your family healthier:
To Prevent Cold and Flu
DO
- Exercise regularly, eat nutritious foods and get enough sleep.
- Wash your hands often, especially during the peak cold and flu seasons (late winter and early spring). You can pick up a cold from a handshake, the telephone - even money.
DON’T
- Touch your eyes, nose and mouth excessively.
- Share cups, glasses or utensils among family members, especially during peak cold and flu seasons.
To Relieve Cold and Flu Symptoms
- Drink plenty of fluids.
- Get adequate rest in a well-ventilated room.
- Use a vaporizer to increase the humidity in the air -- this will help loosen mucus and relieve a dry throat (be sure to clean the vaporizer after each use).
- Cover your nose and mouth with your arm (not hands) while coughing or sneezing; wash your hands frequently to avoid the spread of germs.
- Use paper tissues that you can toss after use instead of cloth handkerchiefs to avoid giving the virus to others.
- Consult a healthcare professional for additional information.
Want More Tips?
- FLU.gov:
Information from the U.S. government for seasonal, H1N1, avian and pandemic flu.
http://www.flu.gov/
- CDC:
Information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the flu.
http://ww.cdc.gov/flu
- Medline Plus:
Information for the flu from the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/flu.html