Cold and Flu Prevention Tips for Seniors: How to Stay Healthy This Winter
As cold and flu season approaches, it’s time to start guarding your health. As a senior, you might be more vulnerable to complications from these nasty illnesses. Luckily, there are several steps you can take to help prevent yourself from getting sick.
Even in seasons of contagious illnesses, when it feels like everyone around you is under the weather, you can protect your immune system. Follow these tips to stay healthy during this cold and flu season.
Wash Your Hands Regularly
It might seem obvious, but the age-old advice to wash your hands rings true in seasons of contagious illness. Washing your hands gets rid of harmful bacteria and viruses that infect your body. While you can’t always eliminate them entirely, handwashing is the number-one way to protect your health this winter.
If you find that your hands become dry and brittle from frequent hand washing, try putting some lotion near your sink. In senior housing in Fort Collins, you have the freedom to decorate your place as you see fit. This can include placing helpful little tools like hand lotion around to moisturize your dry (but clean) skin.
Don’t Skip Out on Sleep: Get Plenty of Shut-Eye
Sleeping is one of the best ways to keep your immune system in good shape. When you sleep, your body replenishes important immune cells and repairs damaged tissues. This ultimately helps in protecting you from catching infections, especially during the winter. Aim for eight to nine hours of sleep each night.
Bundle Up When You Go Outside
While some cold exposure can stimulate your immune system, it’s best to avoid it as much as possible during the winter. Getting too cold can make you vulnerable to bacteria and viruses.
Over time, your immune system won’t be able to fight off threats as well, so make sure you wear plenty of warm clothing outdoors.
Some essentials to stock up on include:
Scarves
Hats
Heavy coats
Lighter jackets (for warmer days)
Ear muffs
Gloves or mittens
Underclothes (for layering)
Winter boots
These clothing items will help shield your body from cold temperatures. This way, you can still get plenty of sunshine and movement outdoors, which are both important for your overall health.
Eat the Rainbow: Fruits and Vegetables
There are compounds in healthy foods like fruits and veggies that help protect against illness. Your body needs a complex blend of nutrients each day to thrive, and “eating the rainbow” will help with that. This means adding diverse fruits and vegetables to your plate, ideally at every meal.
If you’re in senior housing in Fort Collins, your meal plan will include plenty of delicious and nutritious options.
Learn How to Stay Healthy During the Winter
Living in senior housing in Fort Collins means being around groups of people every day. This doesn’t mean you have to catch every illness that goes around. Use these tips to guide you through a healthy and happy winter season.