If you want to learn sure fire ways to avoid
seeing me this cold season keep watching because we are going to share with you the top 10
ways to keep yourself from getting a cold.
Welcome to Family Med, your medical home for
practical and accurate information to help your family make healthy decisions.
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I'm Doctor Erik Richardson, and my passion is helping you cut through all the health
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OK, so we all know that getting a cold makes you miserable, but what are some things that
each of us can do to help prevent from getting it?
I'm going to share with you 10 simple things that you can do today to stay healthy.
So starting with number 10:
This should be fairly obvious but, How about Stay away from those that are sick!
If somebody is hacking all over the place, walk the other way.
If you know you are going to be in a place like an airplane where you know you can't
go anywhere bring a mask.
If you get stuck next to that person who is hacking all the way to your favorite vacation
destination, then put it on!
Number 9:
Stay home when you are sick.
We all appreciate somebody who has a good work ethic, but if you are sick, stay away.
And if you're a boss, let your employees stay away.
It's not worth getting your whole workforce sick for that one day's work of one employee.
Number 8:
Cover your mouth and nose.
When you cough or sneeze use a tissue.
If you don't have one available, sneeze or cough into your elbow, and teach your kids
to do the same.
Number 7:
Don't shake hands. We all love somebody who is friendly but if you are hacking away keep
your hands in your pocket.
If somebody reaches out to you politely tell them your sick and you'll gladly shake it
later.
Number 6:
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
Quit chewing on that pen, don't pick your nose or suck your thumb.
The Cold virus is oftentimes spread through contact as you touch your face.
Number 5:
Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at home, work or school, especially when someone
is ill.
When you are at the grocery store use the wipes they provide to clean the carts.
Number 4:
Get plenty of sleep.
Studies show that people who don't get quality sleep or enough sleep are more likely to get
sick after being exposed to a virus, such as a common cold virus.
Lack of sleep can also affect how fast you recover if you do get sick.
So do yourself a favor, turn off the TV and get that sleep you need.
Number 3:
Eat a Healthy Diet.
Those with diet's higher in healthy fruits and vegetables and those with healthier weights
have a decreased risk of being sick.
Number 2:
Manage your Stress: People who are exposed to long periods of stress are more likely
to develop colds upon exposure to the cold-causing germs.
Get out there and exercise, Meditate, do some Yoga or whatever else works for you to decrease
your stress.
Number 1:
WASH your Hands: This alone can decrease the spread of the cold virus by at least 20%.
I get asked all the time if I get sick by being around sick people all the time.
The answer is no, I don't and its because I am washing my hands at least 30 times a
day.
I don't get sick at work.
The only time I get sick is when I'm home for a while and the kids bring something home
and I get out of my hand washing habit.
So there you have it.
Of course there is no full proof way to be able to completely avoid getting sick but
following these simple steps you will go far in giving yourself the best chance of avoiding
coming to see me.
Now if you didn't follow these steps and you end up getting the cold make sure you
check out my other videos where I discuss what you can do to treat a cold at home as
well as when you should go and see your doctor.
So those are my ideas on how to prevent a cold but I'd like to hear what you do.
What are some steps that you take to prevent getting sick?
Tell me below in the comments.
I'd love to hear from you.
I hope you found the information we presented today useful.
If you did, don't forget to like, subscribe and even hit that notification button as well
as share it with your friends.
This is key to helping me be able to continue to produce this kind of content for you
So until next time this is FamilyMed with Dr Richardson.
Remember to take care of your body because it's the only one you have.