Tips to prevent getting a cold or the flu

Coleen, who is married to Ronald Kiesow, and has four children that she greatly loves, is currently living in rural Goodridge, Minnesota. In an interview last week, Coleen says that her favorite part of the job is the interaction she has with the residents at the nursing home and meeting older people in the community, finding out their needs, and then with the help of the Marshall County social workers, meeting those needs. 

Outside of work, her interests include the three dogs her family has, mowing grass in between rain showers, anything to do with her kids or the church, and reading a good book. 

We all know, though, that soon cold and flu season is coming up and we all want to try and skip over it. Coleen was helpful enough to give a few tips on what to do before and after cold season. The biggest and most effective way to keep the germs away would be by sanitizing or washing your hands as often as you can. It is important to keep your hands as germ free as possible since that is the most common way to spread germs. You probably touch a lot of things in the course of one day and every time you do that you’re spreading possible flu or cold germs. A newer recommendation is to cough or sneeze into your sleeve instead of into the air or your hands.

No one wants to be stuck at home all day with the flu either. Coleen recommends that you get a flu shot every fall. Even early December isn’t too late to get that flu shot! If your doctor allows it, and if you are brave enough, getting a flu shot is very important every year to prevent getting sick. Another cause of getting sick is lack of vitamins. “I am a firm believer in taking vitamin C and D during the winter; it doesn’t hurt to even take it all year!” Coleen said. If you are 65 or older she recommends getting the pneumonia shot to prevent this harsh virus. 

Many people also have the misconception with the flu shot and how it works. 

The flu shot is a dead virus and cannot make you sick with the flu but it will help your body build up antibodies, the little cells that help keep you healthy, to defend you when the flu does get inside your body. If even after the flu shot you get sick it is either bad luck or you are having a reaction to the solution that the flu shot is kept in, something that Coleen, like some of the rest of us, has experienced personally. We must also remember that the flu is very common and is always evolving to find ways and slip past the antibodies.

To treat the flu you can buy Tamiflu, which does shorten your sick time considerably, or you can do what your mom used to tell you! You can get plenty of rest and eat a nice bowl of chicken noodle soup and remember to drink plenty of fluids. If you happen to come down with the flu do not go to work or school and spread your germs thus making everyone sick. Remember one of the main differences between the flu and a cold is if you have a fever it normally means the flu. 

There isn’t much you can do if you start to come down with a bad cough or cold. You can treat most of the symptoms with over-the-counter medicine, but after that, the only other things you could do is get plenty of rest and drink lots of fluids. When you have an active cough or fever the best decision is to stay home and keep all those germs to yourself. 

There are many ways to prevent a cold or flu and these are just a few. If your cold persists for more than 4 or 5 days it is recommended to see a doctor. Instead of sitting at home sick, you can now go out and enjoy a night out with your friends or just a day with your kids. Use these small tips so you don’t get stuck at home missing school or work.