Bennington Banner - 10/19/2016

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19, 2016 Page : B03 BENNINGTON

HEALTH MATTERS BIGGER THAN BICEPS

Eight rules of the road How yoga

for cold and flu season healthier b
By Marie George
Here in the rural north-
east, we rely on our cars to
get around. Almost every-
one learns to drive, includ-
ing how to follow the rules
of the road. Most people
stop at stop signs, stay on
their own side of the road,
and signal before turning,
for instance. Adhering to
these rules not only keep
us safe; they keep others
safe as well.
Lets apply the same
concept to cold and flu
season. The flu is a seri-
ous illness that can keep
even a very healthy per-
son in bed for a week or
two. For others, it can be
life threatening. For the
very young and the elderly,
even the common cold can
morph into something far
more dangerous. What if
we each took some sim-
ple steps to prevent colds
and the flu from spreading
to our family, friends, co-
workers, and classmates?
Here are eight ways you
can work to ensure yours
and your neighbors safety.
Protect your overall
health. You know that ex-
ercise, healthy eating hab-
its, stress management,
good hydration, and rest
protect your body from
diseases that are not con-
tagious, like heart dis-
ease, cancer, and diabetes.
These habits also help your
immune system fight off
infectious diseases like the
cold and flu. Thats why it
is always good to be work-
ing on creating just one
new healthy habit. Nearly
everyone can identify a
way that they can improve
their overall health.
For the greatest chance
of success, choose just one
achievable goal at a time,
and master that habit be-
fore moving on to the next.
Catch your coughs
and sneezes, even if you
feel you are not sick. If
you know you are going to
sneeze in advance, a tis-
sue disposed of in the
trash as soon as it is used
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is best. If a sneeze takes
you by surprise, sneeze
into the inside of your el-
bow. By showing off your
germ-catching abilities,
you set an example and in-
crease the likelihood oth-
ers will practice good hy-
giene, too.
Wash, wash, wash
your hands whenever
they are dirty, after us-
ing the bathroom, be-
fore eating, and as you en-
ter your home at the end
of the work or school day.
Many schools now require
children to wash their
hands before they enter
the classroom and have
noticed positive results.
If you work with others,
keep hand sanitizer in
your work space and use
a squirt before touching
your computer or other
tools. Keep sanitizer in
your car, and use it after
visiting any public area.
Between washings, avoid
touching your eyes, nose
or mouth, the most com-
mon places germs gain ac-
cess into your body.
Clean your space, too.
A regular routine of clean-
ing and disinfecting the
frequently touched ar-
eas doorknobs, faucets,
and electronics like televi-
sion remotes, keyboards,
and phones at home
and at work can make an
impact in preventing the
most common illnesses.
Apply extra effort if some-
one in your household has
been ill.
Get a flu shot. The US
Centers for Disease Con-
trol and Prevention (CDC)
recommends that every-
one gets the vaccine as
soon as it becomes avail-
able, preferably before the
end of October. Get your
vaccine in your primary
care office, if possible.
Your primary care pro-
vider can advise whether
you should get other vac-
cines like pneumonia,
shingles or meningitis.
The sooner you get the
flu vaccine and the oth-
ers you need the sooner
the protection takes ef-
fect. Note the nasal mist
variety of flu vaccine will
not be available this year,
due to doubts in its effec-
tiveness.
Encourage others.
Once you get your shot,
ensure that members of
your family are vacci-
nated, too. The flu shot
is not 100 percent effec-
tive; however, as the num-
ber of people vaccinated
increases, the chances of
anyone getting the flu de-
creases. Social media is a
great place to share the
news of having received
your flu shot. Friends who
see that you have gotten
your flu shot will likely
feel that they should get
one too.
Steer clear. If you are
aware that someone near
you is sick, try to avoid
close contact with them.
And if you feel ill, stay
home.
Practice all year long.
Its not as if we drive
safely only when the
weather is bad. By prac-
ticing these healthy hab-
its all year, we make it
more likely that we will
follow through when it
will make the greatest
impact, during cold and
flu season.
We are all in this to-
gether. Your actions have
the potential to affect
many others. Take your
cold and flu prevention
responsibility as seriously
as you do your responsi-
bility to be a safe driver,
and, together, we will
lessen the overall impact
of cold and flu season.
Marie George, MD, is
the medical director for
Infectious Disease at
Southwestern Vermont
Medical Center. Health
Matters is a column
meant to educate
readers about their
personal health, public
health matters, and
public policy as it affects
health care. For more
columns like this one,
visit svhealthcare.org/
wellnessconnection.
By Makayla McGeeney
tent work
mmcgeeney
few mont
@benningtonbanner.com me that I
@MC_McGeeney on Twitter strengths
ple in the
When you perform a able to do
simple task, its not until af- I can hold
ter you finish it that you re- than othe
alize what characteristics, Many d
values or meanings were can benefi
behind it. From holding ically and
the door for someone who me, its ta
might have been having a breathe th
bad day or getting through impatienc
a workout even though you situations
werent feeling up to it, slow and
Ive found that by attach- forces a b
ing principles to everyday I like to
tasks, it makes me appreci- it definite
ate things more, especially strength a
when it comes to things I Each yoga
dont like doing. strengthe
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process is practicing yoga. lifestyle b
Its a task unlike any other cles can g
fitness activity Ive been a broken do
part of. Its flexibility, stabil- pumping
ity, meditation, focus, and dont have
more, all through an evolv- massaged
ing series of movements. unless its
A few weeks ago I did Stabilit
hot yoga, also called, Bi- portant fa
kram. Ive done it several ing is bas
times before, but when I titions, w
need a kick in the butt, it re- on timed
ally helps. I dont know how hold pose
I could do room-tempera- breath cy
ture yoga ever again. you get th
It helped me with a few comforta
things. It let me know that Through
I havent lost any flexibil- muscles. T
ity during my inconsis- get built w
SAFETY
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