Shelia Lewis: Smith County Extension

The cold and flu season has just begun - and if you haven't had your first "achoo!" attack, consider yourself lucky. Adults can expect to get anywhere from two to four colds before the season ends in April, while children may get as many as 10 colds each year.

Incidents of flu are less frequent, striking only 5 to 20 percent of the population. Although your chances of contracting the flu are fewer, the complications that may ensue, such as pneumonia and dehydration, are more serious.

HOTBED OF GERMS

The office is a hotbed of germs that cause colds and flu. Think about all the surfaces that everyone touches, such as doorknobs, microwave and refrigerator handles, elevator buttons, stair rails, the copy machine, and the coffee pot. Then there are the office mates, who use your phone, borrow your pen, or sit down at your computer to check their e-mail or visit a Web site. And let's not forget the compulsory handshake that's part of daily business etiquette.

People with colds typically carry the virus on their hands. If those hands aren't washed properly, the viruses can stay alive for at least two hours, moving from hands to other surfaces, just waiting to attract another set of hands.

Frequent hand washing is the No. 1 way to avoid spreading these viruses. This means washing your hands for at least 15-20 seconds, using soap and warm running water. For added protection, turn off the faucet with a paper towel. Dry your hands with an air dryer or clean paper towel. Use a paper towel to open the bathroom door; dispose of it in a trash bin outside the door.

But when clean hands are your goal, it's not necessary to spend your workday making trips to the restroom. Nancy Bock, vice president of education at The Soap and Detergent Association, suggests keeping an alcohol-based hand sanitizer at your desk for convenient hand cleaning.

A packet of disinfectant wipes will come in handy for removing germs from the telephone receiver, computer keyboard, and the like. A recent study by UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, showed that cleaning a surface with a disinfectant wipe for just five seconds was 95-100 percent effective in getting rid of germs.

If you are the person with the cold, be considerate of others. Sneeze and cough into a tissue, throw the tissue away, and then wash your hands. If a sneeze or cough takes you by surprise, use your shoulder or your elbow as a shield, rather than your hand.

HEALTH STRATEGIES

Here are some after-five strategies for staying healthy:

Get plenty of rest. Most people need seven to nine hours of sleep.

Eat a balanced diet, and exercise. Along with getting enough sleep, these healthy habits can help the immune system fend off cold and flu viruses.

Get a flu shot.

Avoid contact with known allergens. Allergies affecting the nose or throat may increase the chances of getting a cold or flu.

Quit smoking; avoid secondhand smoke. Because smoking interferes with the mechanisms that keep bacteria and debris out of the lungs, those who use tobacco or who are exposed to secondhand smoke are more prone to respiratory illnesses and more severe complications than nonsmokers.

Finally, if you are sick, stay home. There's nothing heroic about coming into the office and sharing your germs with everyone else.



Shelia Lewis is a Smith County Extension agent in family and consumer sciences. She can be reached at sk-lewis@tamu.edu. This column appears in the Thursday Community section of the Tyler Morning Telegraph.

Shelia Lewis
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