Do you know that one person around you who never falls sick or rarely visits the hospital? The reason may be that they have mastered the art of how not to get sick. If you consciously devote yourself to slowing down the spread of germs and viruses, you stand a better chance of avoiding falling sick.
It is worth noting that right now, there is a lot of confusing and overwhelming information on ways not to get sick. However, this doesn’t negate some of the tested and proven methods which could help you fight illnesses.
To help you clear the confusion, here are some science-based ways which could work to prevent you from getting sick.
5 Ways to Prevent Sickness
1. Exercise Regularly
Daily exercise is one of the proven ways how not to be sick fast. Working out should not be an optional routine if you desire to reduce your sick days. In fact, the mystery behind exercising your body is that you constantly boost your immune system.
Besides, you gain a level of flexibility that is requisite for your daily activities. Therefore, apart from fighting illnesses, you achieve optimal body productivity in everything you engage.
However, you don’t have to camp at the gym the whole day to achieve the result. According to David Nieman, DrPH, director of the Human Performance Lab at Appalachian State University, there is a reduction of over 46% in sick days for people who exercise 30 to 60 minutes a day.
2. Washing Your Hands Constantly
With the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention has unequivocally proven the importance of hand washing. The number one thing to avoid getting sick is thoroughly cleaning your hands. The recommended way is to have running water with soap for at least 20 seconds, then dry with a clean towel.
It is worth noting that your fingertips harbor various deadly bacteria due to interaction with your environment. Keeping those germs and viruses at bay is one sure way not to fall sick frequently.
Washing of hands can be done:
- After using the bathroom
- Before eating your food
- After handling animals, their food and waste
- After touching garbage
- Before and after treating a wound or cut
- Before and after caring for the sick
- Mainly after touching or interacting with physical objects, tools, or surfaces.
If you have no access to water and soap, you can use a hand sanitizer containing 60% alcohol.
3. Eat a Healthy Diet
Having a healthy and well-balanced diet commensurate with living a healthy life. You might be wondering what to eat so as not to get sick. Food rich in vitamins, including fruits and vegetables, boosts your immune system. Seek to increase the consumption of vitamin C, D, and food with quercetin to strengthen your immune system in fighting diseases.
Interestingly, there is not just one specific food or nutrient that offers an answer on how not to get sick. Therefore, you must embrace a wide variety of healthy foods to attain that synergy to avoid getting sick in and out of seasons. Pay attention to what you eat and build your meals around those foods with rich nutrients critical for your body’s immunity.
4. Have Enough Rest
The place of sleep is indispensable when it comes to staying healthy. After that tiresome day at work, moving up and down to get things done, it is only wise that you get good rest. It is no surprise that your immune system needs rest to re-energize to keep you from falling sick.
Researchers have found that people who sleep less than 6 hours a night are four times more likely to get sick. This is because lack of enough sleep weakens your immunity. Therefore, when exposed to a virus like the common cold virus, your chances of getting a cold are high compared to a person who has had enough quality rest.
Besides, enough sleep is one of the best techniques on how to avoid getting sick in winter. When you combine it with other strategies, including diet and hygiene, you help to prevent winter colds and flu.
5. Avoid Direct Contact with Sick People
If you are seriously keen on how not to get sick, you must limit contact with a sick person. This is a familiar trend, especially in families where one person gets ill and spreads to other members within one or two weeks.
Here are some of the ways how not to get sick when someone in your house is ill by limiting close contact:
You can set aside a room where the person can recover to minimize family interactions. A separate bathroom could also be effective if possible.
- Disinfect the frequently used objects and touched surfaces.
- You could also have alternative means of communication such as Facetime if need be.
- Ensure to keep some social distance from the sick member, 3 to 6 feet away.
In case you are dealing with a sick child, it is crucial that you be present for comfort and care. However, ensure you thoroughly clean your hands before and after every interaction to minimize the risk of spreading the illness.
Conclusion
As the risk of contracting new diseases keeps increasing, it seems complicated to understand how not to get sick. However, it is only safe to take the outlined measures to protect yourself and others.
Practicing healthy behaviors such as checking your diet, exercising your body, resting, and washing your hands is vital to staying healthy. Most people who follow these prevention measures do not require serious medical care even when they fall sick. Besides, their recovery period is relatively short.
