Author: Leslie Toldo
If you tell someone you have a cold, the flu, covid- any respiratory infection- you will probably get suggestions for how to manage it. Vitamin C, chicken noodle soup, over the counter remedies, are among dozens of remedies to try once you get sick, but if you want to avoid these illnesses, there is one simple suggestion most experts recommend- wash your hands.
“Think about all the activities that you use your hands for: eating, texting, driving, opening door- the list goes on and on,” said McLaren family medicine Dr. Romy Bhagat. “Fighting respiratory viruses is all about prevention, and washing your hands is the best way to reduce and prevent the spread of germs. “
You should also wash your hands often if you are sick because you will help prevent the spread of respiratory fluids, especially if you are coughing or sneezing. The rest of us should wash our hands at the obvious times, like when we leave the restroom, but also after we have touched surfaces an infected person may have had contact with- like the nozzle at the gas pump.
“You should wash your hands before and after preparing and eating meals, after using the bathroom, after coughing or sneezing, and after touching an animal,” Dr. Bhagat said. “You should also avoid touching surfaces like the sink, faucet, door handles, and your phone after washing your hands. “
You may already wash your hands regularly, but research has shown as many as 95 percent of us are not doing it correctly. There are six simple steps to follow when washing your hands:
- Wet your hands with clean, running water. The temperature doesn’t matter.
- Apply any kind of soap.
- Lather your hands by rubbing them together.
- Scrub every surface of your hands, including between the fingers and the back of your hand, for at least 20 seconds.
- Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
- Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dryer.
You can also use hand sanitizer. It is easy to carry in a purse or pocket and is perfect when you are out in public and need to do a quick clean up. Just make sure your hand sanitizer is 60 percent alcohol, and clean every surface of your hands, rubbing the sanitizer in until it is dry.
“Soap and water are more effective at killing germs than hand sanitizers. Hand sanitizers however can work in a pinch,” Dr. Bhagat said. “If your hands are visibly dirty or greasy, you should use soap and water.”
There are other things you can do to protect yourself during cold and flu season:
- Get a flu shot.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, or sneeze or cough into the inside of your elbow.
- Take in fresh outside air as much as possible.
- Purify indoor air,
- If you are sick, limit contact with others as much as possible.
- If you experience symptoms like fever, chills, fatigue, cough, runny nose, and headache stay home for at least 24 hours, or until your symptoms are improving and/or you have not had fever.
“These are good rules to follow every day, not just during cold and flu season,” said Dr. Bhagat. “However, germs do tend to spread more easily during the cold months because we are indoors more, and viruses travel better in dry air. Also, cold temperatures can slow the immune system.”
If you need a family medicine doctor, you can search for a specialist in your area with our online physician finder at mclaren.org/main/physician-directory. You can also reserve a spot in line at our emergency rooms in Flint and Fenton at mclaren.org/flinter.