When we're sick we feel lousy mentally and emotionally......

[BrigidMoon]

So instead of getting down and getting ill, some tips on keeping healthy to avoid the flu bugs!

Wash your hands often.

Remember that one of the most common ways people catch colds and the flu is by rubbing their nose or their eyes after their hands have been contaminated with a virus. By washing your hands often, especially:
before, during, and after you prepare food
before you eat, and after you use the bathroom
after handling animals or animal waste
when your hands are dirty, and
more frequently when someone in your home is sick,
you may avoid getting sick yourself and keep your kids from getting sick too.


Routinely clean, with soap and water, and disinfect surfaces, toys, and objects that younger children may put in their mouths.

It may also help to wipe surfaces with paper towels that can be thrown away or cloth towels that can be washed afterwards.


Use disposable tissues to wipe or blow you and/or your child's nose.

Teach and use 'cough etiquette', which the American Academy of Pediatrics describes as teaching 'to turn your head and cough or sneeze into a disposable tissue or the inside of their elbow if a tissue is unavailable'.

Avoid close contact with people when you are sick.

It isn't really possible to completely avoid people who are sick, so it is likely better if you just avoid exposing other people to your germs when you or your kids are sick.

So don't go to school, daycare, work, etc., if you are sick with the flu.

Avoid unnecessary contact with a lot of people like crowds.

[BrigidMoon]

Any one else have any suggestions?
To keep healthy?

[Kalandriel]

Well.. washing your hands is the big one.
Wash frequently!

And well.. Vitamin C! :)

[BrigidMoon]

Well.. washing your hands is the big one.
Wash frequently!

And well.. Vitamin C! :)

Good point daily vitamins ...

I also use zinc drops too if I feel something coming on.

[AutumnWitchie]

Keep your own immune system well prepared. Get enough rest and eat well.

[BrigidMoon]

Keep your own immune system well prepared. Get enough rest and eat well.

Rest is always a good thing!

[Marcasite]

would a messy house contribute at all to getting sick? And what about re-using kleenexes? Usually to conserve waste I just throw the old kleenex in my pocket and use it again later... will this prolong my colds? I get a lot of colds, so thanks for the helpful advice, I'll be sure to wash my hands more!

[Kalandriel]

Also if you feel anything coming on, drink a lot of water, and try some echinacea, usually does the trick.

And for a sore throat, there is nothing like tea with honey.. :)

[Teresa]

There are some good hot teas that promote a healthy immune system and if you do feel something coming on look for Red Gypsy Tea that is the name of it in the drug store and grocery stores. It will help knock it out as well as green tea with ginseng!

[Jenne]

Don't lick your fingers when turning pages.

Wash your underwear in hot water.

Change your sheets once a week.

Dust and vacuum regularly, santize all surfaces regularly, clean doorhandles/disinfect them often.

Make everyone wash their hands before eating.

If you sneeze or cough into your hands, either use sanitizer on them or wash them immediately afterwards.

Get out of the habit of touching your face completely.

Get a good diet, have good sleep and rest habits, and exercise daily if at all possible.

If you do get sick, rest and keep fluids up, take ibuprofen and acetameniphen (Tylenol) to keep fever down so you can rest, and make sure you eat to keep up your strength.

If you have an interovirus, as soon as you can get liquids in, do so, and mix 7up with salt and water to get electrolytes up.

Good attitude while sick also speeds healing, as when you are depressed, your immune system does not function as well as it could.

That's about all I have folks! :D

[Faery-Wings]

At the first sign of colds, try garlic - fresh or pill form. Not cooked.
Also Airborne (found at most drugstores) has been a big help in myhouse.

Try to air out rooms when you can.

Spray lysol into ducts if you have forced air heat.

Green tea is fullof anti-oxidents.

Keep the body rested, lower stress levels, eat well and stay hydrated.

[BrigidMoon]

At the first sign of colds, try garlic - fresh or pill form. Not cooked.
Also Airborne (found at most drugstores) has been a big help in myhouse.

Try to air out rooms when you can.

Spray lysol into ducts if you have forced air heat.

Green tea is fullof anti-oxidents.

Keep the body rested, lower stress levels, eat well and stay hydrated.

Great tips! Thanks!
:spinnysmi

[Mouse]

My best friend swears by eating raw ginger.. personally i have no idea how she can do it.. but there you go!

Get some sunshine and fresh air!
Drink lots, constantly, if you can't drink water, then drink tea or coke... coke fixes anything. lol.
Have a nap instead of taking lots of painkillers, to help your kidneys.

If you cough up gunk/phlem from your lungs or throte.. spit it out into a tissue or something. you wont get better if you swallow it, but dont spit it somewhere it will infect others. (gross i know, but a lot of people get sick and stay sick from this).

Brush your teeth. Brush more often if you are sick. Brush your tounge as well. :p
Burn peppermint, eucaliptus, or tea tree oil to clear your sinuses.

Examine your life. A lot of illnesses come from working too hard or bad environments, from being run down or stressed, or from self pity.

[BrigidMoon]

My best friend swears by eating raw ginger.. personally i have no idea how she can do it.. but there you go!

Get some sunshine and fresh air!
Drink lots, constantly, if you can't drink water, then drink tea or coke... coke fixes anything. lol.
Have a nap instead of taking lots of painkillers, to help your kidneys.

If you cough up gunk/phlem from your lungs or throte.. spit it out into a tissue or something. you wont get better if you swallow it, but dont spit it somewhere it will infect others. (gross i know, but a lot of people get sick and stay sick from this).

Brush your teeth. Brush more often if you are sick. Brush your tounge as well. :p
Burn peppermint, eucaliptus, or tea tree oil to clear your sinuses.

Examine your life. A lot of illnesses come from working too hard or bad environments, from being run down or stressed, or from self pity.

:cap: :cap: :cap: :cap: :cap: :cap:

Great ideas for the upcoming winter months here in the US.
:bundled: :bundled: :bundled: :bundled:


For the Aussies, what about the summer months? Keeping cool and what not?

[Mouse]

Run around nakie!! j/k

Avoid being in the sun for too long between 11am and 2pm.
guys - keep your shirt on when your outside, to avoid skin cancer, even though it will disapoint many aussie chicks.
Don't swim straght after eating.
Vinegar and coke can both be used on blue bottle stings and insect bites, vicks vapor rub is good for mozzi bites too.
If you have long hair tie it up to increase the air flow around your neck, and keep you cooler.
Blue light bulbs can give the illusion of coolness on hot nights.

[Faery-Wings]

http://www.lysol.com/activity_booklet.shtml (http://www.lysol.com/activity_booklet.shtml)

Booklet for kids for healthy habits

[BrigidMoon]

Here is a link on getting enough rest:

http://www.helpguide.org/life/sleep_tips.htm (http://www.helpguide.org/life/sleep_tips.htm)

[beautiful_teardrop]

I think when you're sick....A bowl of soup and hot chocolate or tea (yummy chai tea with milk and sugar)...a nice fluffy pillow and quilt...and a nice queit movie to watch. And drinking lots of water helps too....helps u flush the buggies out of ur system:)