That Time of the Year

Time for another round of germ warfare as the spring season
(yes, you heard me right!) has kicked in with the perfunctory
pollen and blooms blowing about, not to mention the yo-yo-ing
temperatures leaving everyone unprepared for daily changes.

There have been terrible cold, flu, stomach, and other viruses
propagating here in southwest Georgia these past few weeks,
and most of us are carrying around the tell-tale signs; constant
body-ache, stuffiness, drainage, tiredness, and so on, all from
merely fighting off the bugs that are all around us.

Remember to touch as little as possible when in public;
I like to carry a pen with me to transact business, instead of
using a community pen, and I use a shoulder or a foot to open
doors so as not to touch them with my hands.

Don't stand too closely to other people, and be aware that
others aren't necessarily as diligent or conscientious as you
may be about hygiene or personal space!

Wash your hands often with warm to hot water and soap,
scrubbing diligently for 30 seconds minimally.

Be careful of overusing or over-relying on hand sanitizer;
it isn't as effective and, in too much use, can dry and crack
your hands, leaving them just as open to germs.

Avoid buffets and eating around other people. Every time
your hand goes to your mouth, your nose, or your eye,
you subject those openings and membranes to every germ
your exposed hand has encountered.

And even though you might be chilled, try to avoid the heat

as it dries your body out and allows germs to live at room
temp longer. The cold is your friend; bundle up! (And drink
hot tea and soups!)

Drink plenty of water, moreso than even than the typical
recommended amount of eight  8 ounce glasses per day.

Drink plenty of pure (no sugar added) juices, especially
with Vitamin C. Fruits and vegetables are good natural
aides in fighting off illness, even though those salty,
greasy, sugary carb-fests will be calling your name as
comfort foods!

Vitamins like C, D, and E, and supplements like Zinc
are good to help avoid sickness.

Remember, once you get sick, there is little to be done
except treat symptoms while it runs its course. So the best
thing is to be smart in all our actions to avoid getting it in the
first place.

Eat right, rest well, drink fluids, avoid sugar and caffeine,
avoid stress, exercise (moderately if already under the
weather,) and avoid contact with other sick people (or use
the above protocols to avoid reinfection!)

Hang in there!

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