Tips to Avoid Sickness this Holiday Season

For all the reasons that we love the holidays, there is one unfortunate side effect of this most festive time of year: the increased risk of getting sick. Between all the shopping, traveling, time spent with kids, get-togethers, and general craziness that is part of the holiday season, it’s no wonder so many people fall victim to seasonal illnesses like colds and the flu this time of year. Although coming down with something may seem inevitable during your travels, the healthcare providers at Abraham Family Medicine are happy to provide a few tips for how to reduce your risk of illness and stay healthy this holiday season.

Wash Your Hands Regularly

This is good advice year round, but especially during the holidays. Washing your hands with soap and water can be a great way to prevent the spread of germs to yourself and others. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends scrubbing your hands in warm water for 20 seconds each time you wash to get the best germ-killing results. If you’re on the go and unable to wash your hands, we recommend keeping alcohol-based hand sanitizers with you.

Get a Flu Shot

Receiving an annual flu shot is the best way to protect yourself against the flu virus. Early fall, before flu activity starts to really rise, is the best time to get a flu shot. Still, it generally takes about two weeks to build up immunity against the flu after the shot is given, so December is not too late to protect yourself for the upcoming holiday season and beyond.

Practice Healthy Habits

Little changes to your diet and daily routine can go a long way towards keeping you in good health. This may include getting regular exercise, eating more healthfully, and making sure to get enough sleep (between 7-9 hours nightly). Taking healthy supplements like vitamin C, vitamin E, and Zinc can also be very beneficial.

Additional Tips:

Be extra in crowded places like shopping malls, gyms, and schools.
Keep your hands away from your mouth, nose, and eyes as much as possible.
Dress appropriately and bundle up when necessary

There’s nothing more annoying than being sick over the holidays. Hopefully these tips will help keep you happy, healthy, and free to enjoy the holiday season with the ones you love. It also helps to schedule a pre-holiday check-up at Abraham Family Medicine to ensure that you are in the best-possible physical health leading into the holiday season. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please contact Abraham Family Medicine today. Our office is located in Snellville, not far from Grayson.