Being down with the flu is an annoying and sometimes unbearable experience to go through. It comes unexpectedly (often during crucial timelines in our life), drains the joy out of regular activities, and proceeds to replace it with a loss of appetite (no more bubble tea?!), sore throat, and the irksome nasal congestion.
In Singapore, the flu season tends to arrive during the colder months of May to July and December to February. For prevention, we’ve compiled 7 essential tips you can do to get through the flu season.
1. Proper handwashing
Coming into physical contact with the flu virus can happen in various ways. One being a first-hand experience (pun intended) where the individual you’re talking to has already been infected, while the other being in contact with contaminated surfaces which the sick individual may have previously touched. The germs can enter your body via wound openings in your hand, nose, mouth and eyes. Learn when and how to wash your hands properly here!
2. Change out and bathe when you get home
Flu germs can live up to 24 hours on surfaces, therefore we should be wary of everything that we’re bringing back to our house, like the clothes that we’re wearing. A good hygiene practice is to always change out and give yourself a good scrub down whenever you reach home. You should also give your house a detox to flu-proof it now and then.
3. Load up on immunity-boosting food
A strong immune system is the best protection against illnesses and it starts with a balanced diet and supplying the proper vitamins, minerals and nutrients to our body. Try to incorporate more vegetables in your meals with these 8 recipes to boost your immune system and utilise your Thermos® Shuttle Chef® to cook efficiently!
4. Getting the yearly flu shot
It’s a common practice to get the flu vaccination shot every year, especially if you’re 50 years old and above or are in constant contact with someone of that age (like your elderly parents). This is to protect yourself and your loved ones from any lingering viruses one may have brought back to the house. There are many subsidised polyclinics in Singapore that provide the vaccination services, so feel free to contact them for more information!
5. Invest in a humidifier
Flu germs and viruses thrive in a dry environment. Invest in a humidifier, be it at work or home, to increase the humidity level in the air to reduce the survivability of the flu germs and make it less transmittable.
6. Hydration and sleep is key
Keeping yourself away from the state of dehydration or exhaustion is a great way to prevent any incoming virus attacks. It is recommended to sleep for at least 7 hours and to drink 3 litres of water per day. If you’re out and about, opt to carry a reusable water bottle like the Thermos® One-Push Tumbler® to hydrate yourself.
7. Exercise regularly
Exercising boosts your body’s defences against illnesses, but knowing what is too much for your body is equally as important. A strenuous exercise adds physical stress to your body and may undermine the immune system. This may leave you more susceptible to infections, which will do more harm than good. Try to keep the exercises within the range of light to medium like brisk walking, yoga, cycling and jogging. Listen to your body, if you’re tired then take a break!
