The holidays are a time of fun, family, and for many of us, a time when our chronic health conditions tend to flare up.
We don’t mean for that to happen, but all of the extra excitement, stress, and close contact with people can wreck havoc on our immune systems causing a major meltdown.
Despite using plenty of Purell and a good scarf, many of us end up spending a least a couple of nights in the hospital during the holidays, especially if you are on immunosuppressants.
Fortunately, there are many ways to prevent common illness from making a chronic disease worse.
Some of these easy, natural ways will surprise you. Many other options will also help to lesson the duration and severity of an illness once you have one.
Here are the top 5 ways to stay out of the hospital during the holidays:
- Don’t touch your face – Almost all acute disease like colds and flu are spread through direct contact. The easiest way for those germs to get into your system is by the orifices in your head (ears, nose, mouth, eyes). By touching someone or something carrying germs then touching your face, you are providing a direct link to disaster. Remember to wash your hands often, but more importantly, don’t touch your face to prevent spreading germs.
- Skip the sugar – Sugar can hurt you health in many ways, but did you know that 100 grams of sugar, about the amount in a can of coke, can knock out your immune system for up to 5 hours? Holidays are a time when many indulge in sweets. Choose them wisely and not very often.
- Use Essential Oils – Essential oils are a really easy and natural way to knock out colds and flu once they’ve started or when you start to feel run down. They are also helpful in treating flu symptoms without having to take medication. You can use them as a natural hand sanitizer on the go as well.
- Sip tea – Drink hot black or green tea with lemon and local or raw honey. Drinking the tea and breathing in steam stimulates the hair follicles in the nose which can move out germs more efficiently. Lemon thins any mucus, in your chest and raw honey is antibacterial.
- Breathe out – When walking past another person who is sneezing or coughing, gently and slowly breathe out until you are beyond then in the ‘safe zone’ which is about 6- to 10-feet away. This keeps you from inhaling the air they just contaminated.
We should all be healthy for the holidays. Just remember to pace yourself, get plenty of rest, and enjoy.
About the Author:
Lisa Douthit is the author of Amazon’s #1 bestselling book, Wellness Warrior – Fighting for Life in Fabulous Shoes and an Integrative Health Consultant who is passionate about healing from all perspectives. After struggling with multiple bouts of cancer and autoimmune disease, no one understands the physical, spiritual, and emotional rollercoaster better than she does.
As one of the 40 million American women currently suffering with an autoimmune disease, she made it her mission to have a voice for all those with an invisible illness that cannot, as well as share the understanding of lessons she learned to help us all feel and be better. She has a private Facebook Group called Wellness Warrior Tribe for all those with chronic illness looking for support and encouragement. For more out of the box thinking that is guaranteed to bring you joy, Like her Facebook Page here or join the tribe here.
