I don’t know about you, but it seems like everyone and their mom is sick right now. With the sudden weather changes, everyone’s immune systems are freaking out and I’d rather not be in that situation. Especially with exam season approaching. I mean, really, I do not want to be that person sniffling at 9 a.m. in the exam room for three hours. So, how can we keep from getting too sick this season? Sit down, children, Doctor Zeinab is here.
This is going to sound so stupid and counter-productive but open a window or go outside. Since we tend to stay inside throughout the winter, we’re just constantly in dry environments with rotating air. You know how people always leave planes feeling gross and sick because of the germs and rotating air? That’s basically what you’re doing with the heater on and being in close proximity to your family or roommates.
If you absolutely refuse to go outside or open a window to let in fresh air, get a humidifier. Then it won’t be so dry, and according to researchers at Columbia University, you’re less likely to spread germs as easily when the air is damper.
Workout. Some theories about why physical activity helps improve health is that it works to flush bacteria out of your lungs. It also causes change in antibodies and white blood cells, which help your body fight off illness. Exercise releases endorphins and lowers stress levels too. Again to my exam season tidbit, you’re probably stressed and that could be a factor in your immune system being bad.
We are suddenly getting barely any sun. We’re either inside or, when we are outside, it’s a few minutes of cloud coverage. I’m telling you, stay warm and build a snowman, all your problems will be solved. But if you still refuse to leave your house, try a vitamin D supplement. According to a study in Epidemiology and Infection, people who took a vitamin D supplement daily had 70 per cent fewer colds and flus than those taking a placebo.
Drink water. You can’t survive off caffeine and hot cocoa alone. I mean, you kind of can but you’ll be dry, your skin won’t look its greatest, you’ll feel tired and you’ll get sick more often. During the summer we have access to more fruits and veggies that contain water in them, but because we have less access to that now, our food doesn’t really have water in it. So, we have to be mindful and remember to drink water, folks. But not from plastic bottles, no, no, get a reusable water bottle.