1) Cover your mouth and nose? If you’ve got it, keep it to yourself. Thousands of hungry viruses come flying out of your nose and mouth every time you cough or sneeze. If you cover, you can stop the spread.
2) Wash your hands? After you cover your mouth with your hands, don’t forget to wash them. Viruses are spread by touching contaminated surfaces and then touching your mouth, nose or eyes. Regular hand washing and alcohol based hand sanitizers are effective in killing harmful germs.
3) Rest, exercise and eat well? If you take good care of your body, your body will take good care of you.
4) Update your vaccines? Almost 100% of the flu strains currently in our community are the H1N1 variety. The good news is that H1N1 vaccines are arriving and studies show that they are safe and effective in reducing H1N1 infection. Seasonal flu vaccine along with pneumonia vaccines can prevent serious complications of the flu. Ask your white-coated crusader about what would be best for you and your family.
5) Don’t share food and drinks ?Forget about the backwash. Every time you put your lips on your friend’s can of soda or take a bite using his fork, you have invited thousands of germs into your body. Many people are contagious even before they show signs of illness. The next time someone asks you for a sip, tell him to get his own can.
6) Grandma’s chicken soup? Researchers have taken grandma’s chicken soup, liquefied it, given it to sick people and have studied its effectiveness compared to placebo. In the end, sick people who ate grandma’s soup had a shorter duration of illness. This naturally leads to the question: whose grandma has the best recipe? Mine, of course.
7) Reduce stress? When we are stressed, we are more susceptible to disease and illness. By reducing stress we can live longer, healthier lives. If you or a loved one suffers from stress, I highly recommend reading "Take the Stress out of Your Life" by local physician Jay Winner, M.D. www.stressremedy.com
8) Be cool, stay home from school...when you are sick. This section was originally called "Don’t be a jerk, stay home from work," but my wife thought it might offend some readers. In any case, when we go to school or work with an illness, we are likely to infect our friends and co-workers. This leads to more absences from school and sick days from work. If we could all agree to stay home until we are well, that would be swell.
9) Breastfeed your baby? Nature’s best medicine comes from mom. When mom and baby are exposed to germs, mom’s body begins to make specific antibodies that are passed on through her breast milk. Many breastfed babies will either escape infection or have a much milder course. On the whole, the breastfed babies in my practice come to see me a lot less.
10) Hug your mom? Hugging your mom or dad may not prevent you from getting a cold, but it would certainly make them feel happy and it is a nice thing to do.
Dr. Dan Brennan is a board-certified pediatrician who will be giving BOTH types of flu vaccine to his wife and two boys. His column can be found in The Daily Sound on alternating Fridays. Please contact Dr. Dan at 563-6211 or visit www.SBPediatrics.com.