How To Avoid A Virus

We are in the midst of a pandemic. All you hear on the news is “Corona Virus” and “COVID-19” everywhere you turn. There’s no escaping it. So we watch, spellbound, as the new tally of infections are calculated each evening on the news. And we are left to wonder what to do. The big question on everyone’s mind is how to avoid a virus. THE virus.

Although, these ideas to keep you healthy are generally a good idea for ANY kind of virus; so this information will be helpful next year, when the new round of flu shows up. Because we all know, every year there’s a new strain of virus to be aware of and avoid at all costs. We are constantly dodging the germs leading to a virus, which means time lost from school and work.

There are at least two things a virus needs to survive and spread: (1) a host, and (2) a means of transmission. The host is what the virus infects and where it reproduces – the sick person. The means of transmission is how it’s spread – through the air, through direct contact, etc.

So just what are these ways to prevent sickness from a virus? What are the best ways to avoid getting sick?

Handwashing

This is the biggie. The one that stands out above all the other tips – and for good reason. Remember we talked about what a virus needs to survive? Well, handwashing interrupts the cycle of transmission of a virus. Handwashing makes sure the germs we’ve come in contact with, if any, don’t stay on our hands long enough to be transferred to our eyes, nose, or mouth when we touch our face – or transferred to a surface where others could come in contact with them. If the germs aren’t transferred, they can’t make us sick. Handwashing needs to be done often, and thoroughly.

And while we’re on the subject – DON’T TOUCH YOUR FACE! Hands off. Germs can enter your system through eyes, nose, and mouth – so don’t put your hands on or around your face. You’re making it too easy for the germs – and that’s definitely NOT how to avoid a virus.

Along with these precautions, make sure you aren’t sharing items – you could be sharing germs! Examples of items you should keep to yourself include:

• towels
• wash clothes
• toothbrushes
• eating utensils
• drinking glasses
• etc.

Alcohol-based Hand Sanitizer

If you can’t always find a sink to wash your hands, you can use the next best thing: hand sanitizer. I work in a hospital, so we have hand sanitizer stations ALL OVER THE PLACE. During the past week, I have used them more than I ever have before. We use them entering a unit, leaving a unit, entering an office space, leaving an office space – pretty much whenever we change location, we use the hand sanitizer.

Pocket alcohol-based hand sanitizers are super easy to find, and should be carried in every bag, purse, or backpack you own. Kids should have one for their backpack, and one for their locker at school.

Carry tissues in your purse or bag as well to cover a cough or sneeze. When you don’t have a tissue and need to cough, do so into the crook of your elbow rather than into your hand or the air around you. And be sure you dispose of the used tissues right away – don’t leave them in your bag or purse! GROSS!

Be extra careful when you are around others who are sick or showing symptoms. Remember, viruses are spread through the air and through direct contact. Minimize the germs in the air or on your hands, and you minimize the spread of the virus.

Hydrate

Drink plenty of fluids, especially while you are sick. While simply drinking lots of fluids may not automatically keep you from becoming sick, it certainly will keep your body working better – and that can mean your body is better able to fight off any viruses around you. Staying hydrated while you are sick is important because your body needs to be able to flush out toxins efficiently to help you heal faster. Make sure you are drinking plenty of water.

Green tea is another drink to get plenty of when you are sick (or trying to avoid becoming sick) with a virus. Green tea has a high level of antioxidants, and may help your body raise it’s immunity to fight off a virus.

And while we’re talking about liquids – stay away from the alcohol. Unless it’s in the hand sanitizer – then use it. Just don’t drink it. Alcoholic drinks can damage the dendrite cells, and harm your immune system. And we don’t want that to happen, not this time of year!

Sleep

This is one of the best ways to avoid getting sick with a virus. Our bodies need to be in tip top shape during this time, and our immunity needs to be at it’s strongest. And getting an adequate amount of sleep will do that for us. Sleep is our body’s way of “restocking the shelves” – a concept we are all very familiar with after last week! Our cells regenerate and rejuvenate after a good night’s sleep. That’s important when faced with a pandemic like the one we’re in now; a sluggish immune system could spell a bout with a virus of any kind. Right now we are concerned with the Corona virus, but even the common cold is a virus – these healthy habits will help guard us from ANY type of virus.

Here are some articles I’ve written about sleep, and how to get more of it:

• How To Sleep Better – 5 Surprising Tips
• How To Reduce Stress With This Bedtime Ritual
• How To Sleep Better During the Holidays

Healthy Food and Multi-Vitamins

“Eat the rainbow.” No, I’m not talking about Skittles candy! I’m talking about the colors of foods we should be eating every day to keep ourselves healthy and ready to fight off disease. The more “colorful” your diet, the stronger your immunity system. Eating lots of fruits and vegetables, in a variety of colors, will give us the necessary vitamins and minerals and antioxidants and everything else we need for good health. And a good multi-vitamin every morning can’t hurt either!

Here are some tips to help you make some healthier choices:

• Green veggies are a great part of a healthy diet, and support a healthy immune system.
• Zinc is a key part of a healthy immune system – make sure you’re getting enough. Zinc deficiency leads to a lower immune system response.
• Vitamin C can’t help shorten a cold, but it can help prevent one.
• Vitamin D is also a great part of healthy immune system – and most people don’t get enough of it!

Calm Down and Destress

Stress lowers your immune system response. I keep harping on having a healthy immune system, but that’s because it’s key for how to avoid getting sick with a virus. A strong immune system is a huge help in making sure you aren’t a statistic this season. And knowing you’re doing the best for your health will help you to destress during this anxious time. And that right there will help boost your immune system. See how that works?!

Use whatever works best for you to destress and stay calm; yoga, deep breathing, meditation on Scripture, prayer, etc. Exercise is a GREAT way to destress, and if you’re outside you have the added benefit of sunshine (think Vitamin D) and fresh air (more oxygen = healthier cells). Something as simple as a 30 minute walk each day will do the trick. Or pull weeds for 30 minutes. Or play fetch with the dog. Or the kids.

Disinfect Surfaces

This is another biggie. Make sure you’re keeping the often-touched surfaces around your home/office clean and disinfected. Sanitizing wipes are great to use. Use bleach-based or alcohol-based products to clean frequently used surfaces and objects. Don’t know where to start? What surfaces are touched the most often by your family or yourself? Things like:

• toilets
• countertops
• light switches
• phones
• handles and cabinet pulls
• door knobs
• tablets
• desks
• key boards
• faucets
• sinks

Here’s a post about several great DIY natural cleaners – which may solve the problem of not being able to find much in the way of disinfecting wipes in the stores at the moment.

The CDC has a great post about how to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus using all of the above topics, along with a video about handwashing and how to make a bleach or alcohol cleaning solution.

These are all common sense ideas and habits for how to avoid getting sick with a virus at any time of year. They are especially timely now, with the isolation we are currently enduring and the threat of this widespread virus. Hopefully we will be able to stop it’s spread quickly, and things will return to normal. But maybe we will also take the lessons we’ve learned from this season, and maintain some of the healthy habits we’ve been forced to include in our daily routines. Here’s hoping this will help us stay healthier in the future!

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