Even in an unusual year, tried and tested strategies are still the best way to prevent disease.
Staying healthy is likely to be number one on your list almost every winter. But this year, in the middle of a pandemic, it could be even more worrying than usual. You may be wondering: should you take special nutritional supplements to boost your immune system or invest in cleaning equipment to kill germs?
While viral threats may be different this year than normal, you should still use many of the same strategies that you would use in a typical year, says Michael Starnbach, professor of microbiology at Harvard Medical School. Here are five of his top tips that can help you and your loved ones stay safe.
1. Wash your hands. Practicing good hand hygiene isn't fancy or innovative, but it works, says Starnbach. Washing with regular soap and water and using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available can prevent germs from being transmitted from an infected surface. towards your eyes, nose, or mouth.
Also, be sure to follow local and national recommendations, including additional strategies like wearing a mask and avoiding large gatherings, especially indoors.
2. Eat healthy and exercise. Train your immune system to fight disease effectively while keeping your body healthy. Eat a nutrient-rich diet that is high in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Also, exercise regularly and get enough sleep. "Being healthy helps us to resist infectious diseases," says Starnbach.
3. Don't skip visits to the doctor. Some people may fear exposure to the disease, so avoid routine checkups and medical appointments. But they can expose themselves to a greater risk, says Starnbach.
"Doctors' offices are now equipped for routine visits in a coordinated and safe manner," he says. Regardless of whether you present yourself in person or for a video visit, it is important to see your doctor regularly. Screening tests are important in maintaining overall health and identifying potential problems early on, when they are best treatable.
4. Get vaccinated. Vaccines aren't just for kids; They are a proven way to strengthen your immune system and protect it from certain viruses and other infectious agents. While COVID-19 has been the center of attention lately, traditional threats like the flu should not be forgotten. This year it's important to get a flu shot every year. Adults should also make sure they are up to date on their tetanus shot, which should be given every 10 years, and are considering the new shingles vaccine called Shingrix, which is recommended for everyone. more than 50 years. It's supposed to prevent the virus. This causes chickenpox (which remains in the body even after the infection ends) to reactivate and cause the painful herpes rash and other symptoms.
Adults 65 and over can also consider the pneumococcal vaccine to protect against a type of pneumonia not related to COVID-19. And stay tuned for news about a vaccine that could protect against COVID-19, which Starnbach hopes will be available in the not-too-distant future.
5. Be skeptical. There are a variety of products on the market that claim to protect you from germs: "self-cleaning" surfaces, UV lamps, and even substances that you should ingest, Starnbach says. A lot of these things are science based, but it's often a big leap from that basic research to the final product, he says. For example, one type of "self-cleaning" surface claims to use crystals to kill germs. While these crystals can kill germs in a lab, it's not entirely clear that they work the same way to kill germs in real life, Starnbach says. So there is a lot of room for skepticism.
The same applies to UV lamps. Ultraviolet light at certain wavelengths certainly has the ability to kill bacteria and viruses. However, these specific wavelengths are also dangerous to human skin and eyes. For it to work, the light needs to come into contact with the virus. Most of the viruses that are transmitted from the environment are contained in mucus droplets, he says. UV light generally cannot penetrate the mucus, which means it cannot inactivate the virus. Even something as simple as the ground can cast shadows that prevent light from reaching its destination. Fog machines have the same problem. You can only really disinfect if the surface is cleaned first.
The best way to keep your environment sterile is to clean surfaces and then sanitize them to disable viruses. You don't need any special equipment, just a cloth and generic detergent.
Image: © Ada Yokota / Getty Images
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