If there is one thing, we’ve all learned from the lingering pandemic, it’s that hygiene and viral prevention is critical to avoiding getting ill. With the flu season upon us and our ongoing COVID-19 issues, we are well aware of getting vaccinated, protecting ourselves, protecting others and boosting the immune system as critical components to staying healthy.
If you’re sick, stay home!
If you’re immunocompromised, do everything you can to avoid exposing yourself to airborne illness and contact with bacterial and viral contaminants.
If you’re fairly healthy, don’t get too complacent or comfortable. You can still get sick.
Along with direct and indirect contamination, touching contaminated surfaces can easily spread infectious diseases like tuberculosis, norovirus, SARS-CoV-2, conjunctivitis, MRSA, bacterial meningitis, mononucleosis, and influenza, to name a few.
What can you do?
Think ahead: If you are traveling or going out into public, take hand sanitizer with you, and use it liberally. Wear a mask if you feel it’s necessary. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unclean hands.
Consider others: Be respectful of others personal space and if you sneeze or cough, cover your nose and mouth. Frequent disinfection of your high-touch-point items such as your phone, desk, doorknobs, remote, keyboard, countertops, etc. are also important.
Try to eliminate stress: It might be difficult, but carving out time to relax, take a bath, take a walk, or simply shut yourself in a separate room for 10 minutes to do deep breathing exercises can reduce anxiety significantly and over time, you will most likely notice that these personal care methods will help you to become calmer throughout the day. If you have access to yoga, or massage, those can help to boost immunity.
Get a good nights’ sleep: The body produces protective proteins that block infection and inflammation. When a person gets the recommended, uninterrupted seven to nine hours of sleep, their immune system is healthier overall.
Nutrition: Eating a healthy diet is also very important to support your immune system. Eating a plant-rich diet, avoiding processed foods, chemicals, and toxins is important for your systemic health and wellbeing.
Supplementation and Vaccines
Taking vitamin C or other supplements such as vitamin D, oil of oregano, elderberry, and zinc can help. It’s also important to get vaccinated! It’s not too late to get the flu shot or the pneumonia vaccine if you’re due. If you haven’t already, get the COVID-19 vaccine. It’s important for the majority of people to get the vaccine, but it’s critical to get the COVID-19 vaccine if you are at high risk, have an underlying condition, or are elderly.
Dr. Ricardo Martinez
Dr. Ricardo Martinez is an internist in Naples, FL and is affiliated with NCH Baker Hospital. He received his medical degree from Superior Institute of Medical Sciences of Santiago de Cuba and has been in practice 20 years. He also speaks multiple languages, including Spanish. He specializes in hospital medicine, ambulatory care and is experienced in hospice and palliative medicine, bariatric medicine, diabetes mellitus, food allergy, and infectious disease.
As of March 16th, 2020, Dr. Martinez has founded Well-Being Medical center in Naples Florida. He is looking forward to providing Medical care within primary care settings and urgent care service throughout the Naples Florida area.
Well-Being Medical Center
239-315-7801
www.well-beingmedicalcenter.org
851 5th Ave. N. Suite 102, Naples, FL 34102