The vacation season is a busy time of yr, marked with social gatherings and journey plans that preserve individuals on the transfer. It’s additionally a time when respiratory viruses like COVID-19, the flu and RSV are inclined to surge. Whether or not you are visiting family members or lastly attending to take pleasure in a much-needed seaside trip, don’t let sickness destroy the vacation season.
To remain wholesome throughout this time of yr, think about taking just a few precautionary measures. Reyn Higa, MD a Household Medication doctor with Dignity Well being Pressing Care in Northridge, shares tricks to keep wholesome throughout the vacation season.
Get vaccinated
Vaccines at the moment are obtainable to guard towards COVID-19, RSV and the flu. Getting vaccinated stays one of the simplest ways to guard your self and family members from respiratory viruses.
In accordance with the CDC, “everybody ages 6 months and older ought to get a flu vaccine and up to date COVID-19 vaccination this fall.” The CDC additionally recommends an RSV immunization for some teams at greater threat for extreme RSV sickness resembling adults older than 60 and infants.
As the vacations carry extra indoor gatherings and elevated travels, viruses are inclined to unfold extra simply. When you’re gearing as much as journey or anticipating spending time with family and friends, there’s nonetheless time to get your vaccines.
Journey safely
Masking continues to be a good way to stop the unfold of an infection, particularly when touring. Utilizing a top quality masks or respirator can mitigate the unfold of viruses, particularly when you end up in crowded areas with poor air circulation for an prolonged time frame, like public transportation. Carrying a masks can even assist those that are extra susceptible to respiratory viruses by limiting the unfold of germs.
Placing collectively a well being equipment to your travels can be a good way to get forward of any healthcare wants you might have when you’re on the transfer. Be sure to are stocked with any prescription and over-the-counter medicines you would possibly want. Relying on the place you’re headed, think about bug spray, SPF, hand sanitizer and tylenol.
Forestall the unfold
When you do end up sick, keep dwelling! One of the simplest ways to guard others is by staying dwelling in case you’re feeling beneath the climate. If that’s not potential, do your greatest to isolate your self when you’re recovering.
Keep in mind to at all times cowl coughs and sneezes in your elbow or with a tissue and at all times wash your palms. Washing your palms with cleaning soap helps kill viruses that could be dwelling on the pores and skin. When you aren’t in a position to get to heat water and cleaning soap, utilizing hand sanitizer with at the least 60% of alcohol will assist kill germs.
You can even get examined for COVID-19, RSV and the flu. Understanding what you could have will assist you to decide what remedy choices you could have and the way lengthy you need to isolate to stop others from getting sick. If you’re involved about your signs, discuss to your healthcare supplier.
When you take a look at optimistic for COVID-19, medicine ought to be began inside 5 days of the beginning of your signs. Flu medicine ought to begin inside 2 days. “The earlier you begin medicine for COVID-19 or flu, the higher,” says Dr. Higa.
Key takeaways
The vacations are a festive and enjoyable time of yr however include an elevated threat of sickness. To guard your self and family members, think about the next actions:
Get vaccinated towards RSV, COVID-19 and the flu earlier than vacation gatherings.
Keep in mind to scrub your palms, cowl coughs and sneezes, and keep dwelling if feeling sick.
Masks-up on planes and trains as a preventative measure.
Communicate to your supplier in case you expertise signs of both RSV, COVID-19 or the flu.
Regardless of being a busy time of yr, attempt to get loads of relaxation and keep hydrated to maintain feeling your greatest. When you do develop into sick, communicate together with your healthcare supplier in case your signs worsen or proceed for longer than two weeks. Our “Discover a Physician” instrument might help you discover a Dignity Well being Medical Group doctor close to you.
