Wellness Wednesday – Staying Healthy this Winter with Nurse Lauren

Hi there, Nurse Lauren here with your Wellness Wednesday tips!

Today, let’s chat about how you can stay healthy over the next few months. Winter is upon us. Everyone should still be very vigilant about the COVID-19 virus and also remember it is regular flu season! You want to make every precaution you can to avoid illness this season. Remember that hospitals and ERs are at max capacity dealing right now and frequently understaffed. Limiting having to go to the doctors in any non-life threatening situation is best. You can always make telehealth appointments to talk to a healthcare professional.

Avoiding the Flu

• Get the flu shot! Regardless of what you have heard…”it’s not working this year,” “it’s the wrong strain,” you still will be better off getting the flu shot than not.
• Wash your hands – often! You contract the flu from germs and the best way to combat germs is to constantly wash your hands. Do you work somewhere where you are touching communal surfaces? Think of everything you touch all day long and how many of those things and places can have bacteria on them. Did you just stop reading this to go wash your hands? Good for you! But come back – I’m not done!
• Clean your electronics. Your phone, tablet, iPad, and computer keyboard are huge breeding grounds for germs. These are devices that you are in constant contact with – so make sure you are thoroughly cleaning them. Of course it is not recommended to use soap and water on touch screens. Research the safest way to clean your screens without damaging them. During flu season – don’t pass your phone around to other people. Want someone to see something on your phone? Rely on the screenshot! The best way to keep these surfaces clean? Keep the thing touching them clean… so see #2 – wash your hands!

Even though you followed all my wellness tips, are you still coming down with something?

• Stay home! Don’t spread your germs by going to school or work sick.
• Coughing? Cover your mouth!
• Get in bed and rest, don’t push yourself or overdo it.
• Fluids, fluids, fluids! Keep yourself hydrated.
• Treat your symptoms with over the counter medicines.
• As recommend by the CDC, if you get sick with flu symptoms and are in a high risk group, or are very sick or worried about your illness, contact your health care provider. “People at high risk of flu complications include young children, adults 65 years of age and older, pregnant women, and people with certain medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes and heart disease.” – Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Protecting Yourself from COVID-19

During this global pandemic is very important to make sure that you are getting factual and reliable information. The best resource is to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (@CDCgov) recommendations on how to protect yourself and what do to if you are sick. You will also find tips on how to disinfect items, wash your hands, cloth coverings, symptom monitoring, living with someone in isolation and much more. Check out my infographic below and follow the steps carefully to protect yourself and those around you. The best way to protect yourself and your loved ones from COVID-19 is to get vaccinated. It is safe and free.

Have you already been vaccinated? You may qualify for booster shots that are now available.

IF YOU RECEIVED
Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna

You are eligible for a booster if you are:

• 65 years or older
• Age 18+ who live in long-term care settings
• Age 18+ who have underlying medical conditions
• Age 18+ who work or live in high-risk settings

When to get a booster: At least 6 months after your second shot

Which booster should you get? Any of the COVID-19 vaccines authorized in the United States

IF YOU RECEIVED
Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen

You are eligible for a booster if you are: 18 years or older

When to get a booster: At least 2 months after your shot

Which booster should you get? Any of the COVID-19 vaccines authorized in the United States

For more information check out the CDC’s information on COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Shots

This is Nurse Lauren, contributor of NursesNOW, signing off with your Wellness Wednesday tip! Remember to follow these tips to protect yourself from both the coronavirus and the flu so can avoid getting sick this season!
ICYMI – My other Blog posts, plus Nurses NOW Weekly Roundups and Friday Fives.