As soon as one colleague starts sneezing and coughing, all colleagues join him. How to get around the office cold and stay in the ranks? Woman’s Day turned to two experts for advice: a general practitioner at polyclinic no. 6 of the North-Eastern Administrative District, a member of the Russian Society of Cardiologists, Denis Prokofiev, and the General Director of the V.I. NS. Khodanova Lyudmila Lapa.
Disease-causing bacteria travel through the air and settle everywhere: on a shared cooler, keyboards, copier, mugs and door handles. Any non-individual object in the office can become a source of illness. Computers are constantly on, batteries are drowning, and windows do not open? These are ideal climatic conditions for viruses.
Remember to wash your hands. Are you out of the office? Have you come from lunch? Returned from a meeting? Forward to the crane. The door handle that everyone grabs onto is one of the main sources of bacteria, as is the technique you use with your cold. And there’s no need to reinvent the wheel! No super antibacterial soap or gel will cleanse your skin better than regular water. Chemical asepsis not only fight bacteria, but also destroy our microflora, which means they make it more vulnerable.
But the door handles should be wiped with alcohol wipes two or three times a day, and at the end of the working day, treat your desk, mouse and keyboard.
Protect your skin. As you know, infections enter our body through the mucous membranes. To prevent this from happening, treat your nostrils, lips and ears with antiviral oxolinic ointment before each exit from the house.
Purchase a salt water spray and antiseptic solution. During the working day, rinse your nose, gargle.
If you have barely noticeable wounds, scratches, abrasions on your body? This is the gateway for germs. And they need to fight back. How? Very simple. After a shower, apply a moisturizing cosmetic oil to the whole body, it will create a protective film, “close” wounds from bacteria. Germs can get on the surface of the skin, but thanks to the oil they will not get inside and will be washed off with water the next time you shower.
Ventilate the room. Take a break from work, open a window, and the office will be filled with fresh air. But do not make drafts, otherwise you will definitely get sick. If the windows won’t open, buy a humidifier with your colleagues, and it will immediately become easier to breathe.
Watch your clothes. Dress for the weather. If it’s cold outside, wearing a warm sweater, but no hat, consider yourself naked. From hypothermia in the vessels, microcirculation is disturbed, and, as a result, we get sick. Another important wardrobe item is shoes. Are you wet? Be sure to dry your shoes or just the insoles on the battery. Wet shoes are a road to colds. Are you afraid of germs on your clothes? Do not treat things with antiseptics, it is useless. The best fighter against bacteria is hot steam. After washing, iron all clothes with a steamer iron.
Eat well. Our diet is an important component of immunity. If we suffer from dehydration, deprive ourselves of carbohydrates or fats while dieting, the body will weaken and become more susceptible to infections. Do not forget to drink plain water, at least two liters per day. And eat rationally – five times a day in portions of 200 g, that is, every three hours. Your diet should include all the important elements – 20% fat, 60% carbohydrates and 20% protein. Only by following such a formula, each of our organs will receive the necessary amount of vitamins and minerals.
Listen to your own body. Quite often, we do not pay attention to the signals of our body. What is the connection between heartburn and colds? The most direct one. If something is wrong with the organs of the digestive tract, consider that the doors are open for infection. Even if you eat right, due to digestive problems, most of the vitamins are simply not absorbed, and this is a huge blow to the immune system, it depends on the work of the stomach and intestines by about 80%. Are you suffering from heartburn, pain, or gurgling in your stomach? I ran to the doctor until fever, cough and runny nose added to the troubles.
By the way
· If you get sick, stay at home for at least the first two or three days. During this period, the virus is very active and contagious.
· Can’t tell if you have caught a cold or the fault is fatigue? Get a complete blood count. If the leukocyte count is normal, then there is no infection.
· Weakened immunity? Refuse feasts. Hot drinks do not heal, no matter what folk medicine says. Alcohol only aggravates the situation.
· Don’t forget about natural antibiotics and immune-boosting foods. Add fresh garlic, onions, almonds, honey, and raspberry jam to your diet.
Woman’s Day wishes you good health and pleasant working days!