Flu avoidance tips can also keep other bugs away

We hear a lot about flu season during the winter, why it shows up in cold weather and all the things to do to try and avoid the bug.

The recommendations for avoiding influenza also apply to dealing with the spread of other illness, such as the common cold or stomach viruses. All are more common in winter because people are typically indoors more often, making it easier for bugs to pass from one to another.

The best steps to avoid all of these illnesses, says Kim Schneider, Reid Health's infection control practitioner, are pretty much the same. Here's how to do all you can to stay well in winter:

• Wash your hands - By far, this is one of the best and easiest ways to reduce the chances of picking up an unwanted infection. Touching something like a shopping cart or a gas pump that was just used by someone with a bug, then touching your mouth, eyes or scratching your nose, is an easy way to give yourself the infection.
• Use sanitizers - Most stores like Wal-Mart have these available at the entrance. You can also easily find pocket or purse versions to use. Wipe down the shopping cart handles and use them after touching other things in the store.
• Take vitamins - Though the National Institutes of Health says supplements like Vitamin C do not necessarily reduce incidents of cold, for example, doses of at least 200 mg/day may be helpful to people who do extreme physical activity, work in cold environments or have issues affecting their levels of the vitamin such age or being a smoker. Vitamin C may help shorten the duration of a cold.
• Get enough rest - Fatigue can tend to lower your natural resistance to infection. The… recommends adults get at least seven to eight hours of good sleep each night. Teens and children may need up to 10 hours a night. The Mayo Clinic notes that a lack of sleep affects the immune system and makes you more likely to get sick after being exposed to a virus. Also a lack of rest can affect how long it takes to recover if you do get sick.
• Avoid close and crowded places - Though not always possible, the fact that cold weather tends to keep more people in smaller spaces for longer periods contributes to an increased chance of sharing a winter bug, Schneider says. This is why colds, flu and other illnesses are more common in winter. "Research also shows that some viruses tend to live longer in colder temperatures and lower humidity."
• Be aware of touching your face - Every time you touch your eyes, nose or mouth, it's possible to transfer any bug that might have made it to your hand. This just reinforces why it's so important to wash your hands often. "Teach your kids not to touch their faces - and follow your own advice," says WebMD.

If you do get sick with the flu or other illness, the same guidelines apply: Stay home when sick except to get any necessary medical equipment, encourage others in your household to avoid close contact and be sure everyone washes and sanitizes as much as possible.

(Watch video on proper handwashing HERE)