People are becoming increasingly conscientious about trying to stay healthy and avoiding contagions that can make them sick. If you’re concerned about getting sick, here are four of the most effective things that you can do to help safeguard yourself against infection.
1. Get Plenty of Rest
Getting an adequate of sleep every night is vital to maintaining a healthy and high-functioning immune system. When you sleep, your immune system recharges and builds up the strength that it needs to fight off viral or bacterial infections. If you aren’t getting enough rest every night, your immune system will be at a deficit when it has to work against infection. You may become sick more easily than other people and when you do become ill, it may last longer or be more severe. The recommended amount of sleep that you need every night to maintain a healthy immune system is a minimum of 7-8 hours.
2. Eat Healthy Foods
If your diet doesn’t provide the nutritional content that your body’s systems need to operate at their best, you may be at an increased risk of getting sick. Avoid eating foods that are high in sugar and empty calories. Instead, try to eat foods that are rich in content to support a healthy immune system. Foods that contain protein, fiber, vitamin C and D, and iron will help your immune system stay strong.
3. Avoid Touching Things That You Don’t Have To
It can be hard to avoid coming into contact with surfaces in public places, but you should try to reduce the risk of exposure to germs as much as you possibly can. Maintain germ-free hands by using a tool to avoid physical contact with surfaces that are frequently touched but rarely cleaned such as credit card keypads and building access control terminals.
4. Wash Your Hands Frequently
Because you may not be able to avoid touching some surfaces, it’s important to wash your hands regularly throughout your day. Washing your hands is particularly important at places like your office, where you may have to touch things that other people use such as a computer keyboard or a telephone receiver. You should definitely wash your hands before you’ll be bringing them into contact with your face or your mouth to eat. To wash your hands effectively, the Centers for Disease Control recommends that you need to wash your hands for a minimum of 20 seconds and include all areas of your hands including under your fingernails.