I write this post to save my readers from the horrid experience that hit my family this past week. With the never-ending shift in weather conditions here in Los Angeles, our immune systems are working twice as hard to keep us in the best of health. My 2 year old son started vomiting while at daycare and I immediately rushed to pick him up and care for him. It lasted for about 5 hours (happening every 30 minutes or so) and was accompanied with diarrhea. After taking him to the doctor and getting a diagnosis of a stomach virus, he seemed to be on the way back to good health. My husband and I spent that night caring for him so that he could get back to school, but little did we know his bug would infect us. In the middle of the night, both of us flew out of bed with vomiting and diarrhea spells and had to call in work the next day. We were a house down and physically, it was one of the most excruciating experiences of my life.
It’s so important when dealing with inclement weather conditions that we all protect ourselves and families so that we remain unscathed from the bugs that are out there. Here are a few tips to keep yourself and your home germ free:
-Wash your hands frequently. This one is not news. We hear this all the time regarding cold/flu season, and it’s best to make this a practice year round. Keep hand sanitizer in your car, handbag, backpack, etc for those times you can’t access hot water and soap.
-Dump trash frequently. This one is essential, especially if there is a sick party in your household. A build up of soiled tissues laying around is illness waiting to happen. Keep you and your family well by dumping those wastebaskets as soon as they fill out, sometimes sooner.
-Keep your home (and car) disinfected. Keep Lysol spray and wipes around your house and a set of wipes in your car. Spray and wipe things down frequently to keep germs from building up. Also, spray air and heat vents around the house to kill any germs from spreading from one room to another.
-Eat light. With many holiday celebrations, food is always in abundance, but a sluggish digestive system is not conducive to a productive immune system. Let the cold weather be your guide and eat light but filling foods like soup, or if you’re in the mood for something more hearty, vegetable stew and turkey chili.
-Drink plenty of fluids. Water is the super fluid of life so continue to drink plenty of it and enjoy fresh fruit juice in moderation. Herbal teas are perfect for this time of year.
Get plenty of rest. Often during vacation time, our first inclination is to do the things we aren’t able to do when we are at work. However we overlook “relaxing” as one of those options. Listen to your body’s cues. If you feel tired and want to relax, go ahead and do just that. Read a book, listen to music, take a nap, and decompress. You’ll be back to the hustle and bustle soon enough.
Be well everyone.
Comments are closed.