Keeping Your Family Healthy Over the Winter
It’s that time of year again when colds and flu are running rampant. While you can get your flu shot and use plenty of hand sanitizer, there are steps you can take at home as well to ward off sickness. When you plan ahead, you could be fortunate to have a much healthier winter.
Take Care of Air Quality in Your Home
Fresh, clean air is a must if you want to avoid nasty, respiratory infections during the winter. A 3m furnace filter is a good place to start. You can also place air purifiers in strategic locations throughout your home. Stay on top of dust and pet dander as well. While it’s important to take these measures at any time of year, it’s essential to be vigilant during the winter months. Immune systems tend to be down and your family will be more susceptible to illness.
Check Your Room Temperatures
Keep your home too warm and you could be opening the door to illness. The same can be said about a house that is too cold. Think 65 degrees to 68 degrees for a good number for the temperature of your home. At night, you can drop it down a few degrees, bringing it back up in the morning. You can always use a sweater or a throw blanket when there is a bit of a chill. Avoid major extremes between the exterior and interior temperatures.
Dress Appropriately
Make sure everyone in your family is dressing for the weather. Don’t overlook hats, mittens, proper footgear, and warm coats. If the day is mild, it will not hurt to bring a warm coat along in case the conditions change. You can always peel off layers. You can’t do anything if you don’t have any extras.
Pay Attention to Nutrition
Remember to stock the kitchen with fresh produce, plenty of fluids, and supplements that are loaded with vitamin C. You need to make immune systems stronger at a time when they tend to suffer. When your family eats well, they are likely to feel well.
Get Your Exercise
You need to keep moving and get the blood pumping at any time of year, but especially in the winter months. Don’t allow anyone to go into hibernation. Stay active, keep your metabolism running strong, and stay healthy.
Dorothy Teel says
January 4, 2015 at 7:16 AMGreat ideas and I thank you for sharing, I must always remember to drink a lot of water and remain hydrated and more people need to learn to sneeze or cough into their elbows to help decrease the spread of gersm and all need to get a flu shot, if possible.
Candice Balser says
January 2, 2015 at 3:09 PMThank you for the tips. I’m familiar with most of them, but never thought about the house being too warm and then going out into the cold. But it totally makes sense.
Linda Manns Linneman says
December 31, 2014 at 7:30 AMThese are some great tips. As you know, this is flu season. Thank you for sharing
lisa says
December 30, 2014 at 8:24 AMInteresting. I didn’t know that a too warm or cool room could make you ill. I really want to get an air purifier. I am suffering from a sinus infection that I’ve had for 6 months. My husband’s doing remodeling in an upstairs room and there is a super fine dust in the air. I’m sure that’s part of the problem.
Alison says
December 29, 2014 at 9:35 PMThanks for the advice! My whole family got sick over Thanksgiving, it was no fun. I’d like to get an air purifier this coming year.
Carol L says
December 29, 2014 at 3:00 PMVery good adice. We picked up some air filters for our rooms.Keeping the air from getting stagnant will help a lot during any time of year but especially during winter.
Carol L
John House says
December 29, 2014 at 8:49 AMA lot of good information here. Most of it is common sense, but it never hurts to have a reminder…..
Tammy Woodall says
December 28, 2014 at 5:12 PMUnfortunately, the cold and flu symptoms have already started in our home. We’re currently trying to get a hold on it before it gets worse. All of the above-referenced tips are great to try to stay healthy during this time of year.
Lisa F. says
December 28, 2014 at 11:58 AMI’m guilty of going into hibernation, LOL. These tips are very good, though. I’ve started taking Emergency C when I start feeling something coming on. Can’t hurt (unless you’re susceptible to vitamin C toxicity, LOL)!
heidi eaton says
December 28, 2014 at 6:14 AMThese are great tips. I don’t have an air purifier but I usually air the house by opening the windows every couple of days to change the air. We are having a very mild winter so far(knock on wood),almost like spring. 50 degrees just yesterday.
Kelly says
December 27, 2014 at 5:40 PMGreat tips. I use so much sanitizing spray during the winter months, but haven’t started using a air purifier! I am going to start. Thanks for the tips.