Don’t Get Sick!

Hello, it’s Dr. Vivian again from Memorial Village Emergency Room!

Why am I writing this blog? 

Well, as I am sitting on the couch next to my husband who is actively blowing his nose, coughing and complaining about how miserable he feels, I started wondering why it is that I never get sick…and I mean NEVER, EVER, EVER GET SICK! (Believe you me; I am looking for some wood to knock on).

I am sure that you all have met “Super Humans” (like myself =D) at work or at school, who have mastered the art of “Not getting sick.” I AM HERE TO SHARE OUR SECRETS!

WE WASH OUR HANDS – A LOT!

Sounds like obvious advice. We all learned this in Kindergarten. Our hands are in contact with germs on doorknobs, stair railings, and other people all day long. According to the CDC, proper hand washing for 20 seconds would avoid 1 billion colds that Americans are inflicted with annually. To keep germs at bay, wash your hands judiciously or use hand sanitizers!

WE SLEEP!

Cheating on sleep results in more sickness. A good night sleep restores the immune system. A study recently showed that individuals who had less than six hours of sleep daily were four times more likely to catch a cold than individuals who got 7 hours of sleep.

WE EXERCISE!

Get moving! Research suggests that consistent exercise gives your immune system a boost. It could be that exercise (a) lowers stress hormones (b) heart pumping sparks a rise in disease-fighting cells.

WE DRINK LOTS OF WATER!

Water flushes out toxins and gives your body the strength to fight off infections. It is important to keep in mind that tea, coffee, soda, and juices are not substitutes for water and can all lead to dehydration.

WE AVOID STRESS!

Chronic stress weakens the body’s immune system. Classic studies showed that students’ immune systems were most weak during exam periods. When stressed, people tend to move less, sleep less and their bodies produce more stress hormones.

WE AVOID CIGARETTES, ALCOHOL, AND DRUGS!

Cigarettes, drugs, and alcohol (in excess) are toxins. Cigarettes damage the mucous membrane of the lung and increase the likelihood of catching a cold by two-fold. Smoking also suppresses the immune system.

Here at Memorial Village ER, we have started seeing individuals diagnosed with influenza much earlier in the year than normal. Be safe, wash your hands, stay well rested, exercise, avoid stress, avoid cigarettes, drink lots of water, and STAY TUNED. Our next blog post on memorialvillageER.com will be about the “Flu Virus.”