Save money – avoid spring colds
April 13, 2009 by Jennifer Chait
Filed under Health & Wellness
Staying healthy is actually a killer way to save some cash – pretty much all year long. For this specific post though, we’ll look at springtime colds. It’s on my mind, because everyone around me is sick. You’d think that with spring here folks might be feeling peppy and well, but all I’ve seen lately is sick people.
If you can manage to avoid spring colds, your immune system will be at peak performance, and you hopefully won’t get even more sick and need an expensive trip to the doctors or medications.
Stay healthy:
Wash your hands – I know BORING. Still, washing your hands is the number one best way to avoid catching icky germs from everywhere. Don’t waste cash on weird hand cleaners either. Studies show that hot water and plain old soap work just fine. Have your kids see this hand washing help site.
Carry germ-prone items with you. Some germy items you can’t avoid handling (money! ick) but others you can. For example, always carry a pen with you. Pens go in mouths and unwashed hands touch them. Germs galore! Use your own pen at the bank or store.
Don’t swap spit. This may seem like a no brainer, but how many times have you eaten your kids half bitten chicken nuggets, or taken a drink off your best friend’s glass. Studies show that adults catch colds from kids easier than they catch colds from us, so be particularly careful when it comes to your kid’s items.
Carry your own reusable water bottle. Water fountains carry scads of germs. In fact, one study found more germs in the water from a public fountain than in toilet water in a public restroom.
Don’t freak about germs. Stress can make you sick. If all you do is worry about germs, quit it. I know people who spend way too much time flipping out about germs. Yeah, we don’t need oodles of extra germs, but if you think you can wage war on germs and win, you’re sadly mistaken. Take precautions, wash your hands, but don’t allow the stress about germs to actually make you more prone to illness.
See four more places that germs can hide.
[image is of the Common Cold via GIANTmicrobes]
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