Secrets of Staying Fit When Flu Season Arrives

There are people who easily catch cold and flu season was not friendly. But there are also other people who stay fit despite being around people who have the flu, colds or coughs. This could be the secret.

When having a bad flu season will be more apt to occur. Researchers have done studies that can reveal the secrets of keeping fit despite being surrounded by a variety of germs, including flu viruses.

The secret to stay fit when the flu season is underway as quoted from CNNHealth, Thursday (11/03/2011), among others:

Secrets of Staying Fit When Flu Season Arrives

1. Lots of fresh air

Probably lived in the house will sound more infected keep us from various diseases. Especially when the weather is very cold outside, it would seem better to stay inside the house so as not to hurt.

However, sometimes inside the house just to put someone in constant direct contact with others, of course, along with viruses and bacteria they carry. Fresh air can also nourish the respiratory system. In addition, because the effect of relaxation can also make a fresh mind.

Fresh air tidah just resting the person from contact with all the viruses and bacteria that circulate in the room. But the roads in place with fresh air can really boost immunity.

A study in 2010 by Appalachian State University showed that people who walked briskly for 30-45 minutes 5 days a week day during the winter would be less suffering from the disease than people who do not perform the activity.

"Exercise or physical activity causes an increase in natural killer cells, neutrophils, and monocytes, which in turn can enhance immune function," said Ather Ali, ND, MPH, assistant director of the Complementary / Alternative Medicine Research at the Yale Griffin Prevention Research Center.

2. Relaxation can fight colds

So many daily activities make a lot of people do not have time to relax or relaxation. Relaxation or just relax for a while can reduce the stress we are experiencing.

But relax or relaxation often in the last sequence from the list of daily activities. Whereas the relaxation should be a priority. "Due stress will increase one's susceptibility to the flu," said Ali.

In the long-term process, it leads to spending the ongoing stress hormones such as glucocorticoids. The hormone will inhibit the body's ability to produce cells that are signaling molecules called cytokines. Cytokines can trigger a response against the disease of the immune system.

"When a person under stress also tend to not care and care for themselves. So often do not pay attention to diet, lack of sleep, and lack of exercise," said Ali.

3. Washing your hands regularly

Colds and flu can spread very easily through touch. Especially after someone touching hard surfaces like tables and doorknobs, where the virus can survive for 2-8 hours. Keep fingers and hands from eyes, nose, and mouth as much as possible, and be sure to wash your hands regularly.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, soap and water remains the most effective tools for hand washing. Germs can grow on bar soap, so you should use a type of liquid soap. Scrubbing with soap for 20 seconds before rinsing, and make sure after that hands are completely dry. But do not dry the hand that had been washed using the clothes we wear.

"Wet hands are much more likely to spread bacteria than dry hands," said Dana Simpler, MD, a physician at Mercy Medical Center, Baltimore.

Using hand sanitizers is also recommended. Since at least be able to reduce the spread of germs. A survey in 2010 by the American Cleaning Institute found that, less than 40 percent of people who wash their hands after coughing or sneezing.

This means it will put the virus back out and spread it to others. So by using hand sanitizers can at least reduce the spread of germs while not washing hands.

4. Enough sleep

Through the occasional restless night with no need to worry about. But if lack of sleep can continuously inhibit the immune system's ability to function, it also increases the risk of all sorts of health problems, including diabetes, heart disease, obesity and depression.

Although experts often say that, of sleep each person needs is different. But a study conducted by Carnegie Mellon in 2009 found that, sleeping less than 7 hours a day increases the risk of the flu as much as 3 times. Sleep for 7 hours, not a disjointed sleep but sleep for 7 hours.

"Sometimes thinking about solving problems we are experiencing before bedtime can disrupt sleep," said Leslie Swanson, Ph.D., a sleep specialist from the department of psychiatry at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

To overcome this problem could try relaxation techniques. The technique starts from the toes. Contract all the muscles, hold for a few seconds and then relax. By doing so before bedtime can make sleep more soundly.