Nature has totally nailed this time of year.

Hibernation is without a doubt the way forward when temperatures drop and the weather just doesn’t want to play. Either that or one can winter in the Mediterranean. (Insert winky face here.)

For most of us, neither of those things are viable options and even if they are, it doesn’t guarantee you immunity from Winter’s biggest threat – the flu.

Completely indiscriminate, when it hits, its one of the most awful things to have to navigate. For those who have actually had flu and not just a really bad cold, you will know well the symptoms that come with it, and the fact that for most, several days are lost in bed trying to crawl into the land of nod to get away from how horrendous you feel.

So what is the flu, and what can you do to give yourself a fighting chance of avoiding it when it rears its ugly head? Here’s the science bit…..

The flu is a viral infection known as Influenza that has four individual strains, each with their own genome and each affecting its carrier in different ways.

Influenza A tends to be responsible for the most severe cases of seasonal flu as well as epidemics and pandemics. Although it affects people of all ages, it tends to cause severe illness in the elderly, very young and patients with chronic health issues.

Carried predominantly by birds such as ducks, geese and gulls, the virus has also been found in a range of domestic farm animals and marine life with its subtypes making an appearance in bats.

Influenza B and C are mainly found in humans although it is believed that one of the B subtypes was made extinct during the pandemic due to lockdown measures that were in place. These two strains tend to primarily affect children and are usually not severe, although C has been known to develop into gastroentiritis and pneumonia.

Influenza D is rarely seen in humans. Found in farming animals, it occasionally passes to cattle workers but as a general rule is not something to be concerned with.

So when flu rears its ugly head and its ready to kick ass, what are some of the symptoms to watch out for?

We all want to avoid getting to this stage and there are certain things that you can do to hopefully prevent it which we will talk about in a minute, but if you find yourself starting to feel poorly, what are the best ways of making sure it doesn’t linger.

• Stop, stop, stop – rest and sleep!

We cannot stress this enough. If you have the flu, chances are you won’t be able to do much anyway but it is imperative that you let your body rest. Sleep, sleep and more sleep. Not only will the rest allow your body to fight the virus but it also means you aren’t risking passing it on to other people.

• Drink Plenty of Water

If you aren’t naughty like the Normedica ladies, you will already be doing this every day anyway. Gold stars for you!

Our water seems to come with coffee granules in it unfortunately. What can you do?

At the best of times, your body needs plenty of water to function as it should, and that doesn’t change because you are ill. Dehydration is a very real possibility when you don’t feel like drinking, but even if it is just small sips often, its important that you drink what you can.

• Take Paracetamol or Ibuprofen

Although antibiotics are no good with a virus, this doesn’t mean that you have to suffer. Paracetamol or ibuprofen will not only help to reduce your temperature but will also help to take away some of the aches and pains that come with a proper dose of flu.

• Keep Warm

You might want to throw that blanket off or take a cold shower when you feel like you are burning hotter than the sun inside, but we wouldn’t recommend it.

Keep yourself warm and in bed, and if needed, a cold, damp cloth can be put on your forehead to try and cool you a little. From personal experience, sometimes, that actually helps more with the headache than taking paracetamol.

• Avoiding the Spread

If you are not 100% but definitely not poorly enough to be in bed, there are some very simple things you can do to protect other people that you are around.

From washing your hands with soap and hot water regularly to covering your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, if you are still going about your normal day, make sure you are considerate of other people around you. After all, you don’t know if the person you are standing next to in the corner shop has a chronic illness.

A dose of the flu or a cold, whilst unpleasant for you, could be a death sentence for them.

Now, as we mentioned, none of us want to be at the point where we are trying to exorcise Winter’s most cruel demon, so what measures can we take everyday to give our bodies the best chance of avoiding the virus?

If I am completely honest, its the usual suspects folks – strap yourselves in because you all know what’s coming!

• Everything in moderation – keep it healthy!

Diet is massive in keeping your body healthy and your immune system working the way it should. Nobody is saying you can’t have that Dairy Milk – after all they are celebrating 200 years – but treat your body like your car. You know the damage that’s done when the wrong petrol is used or you ignore the warning light on the dash. Your body is no different and keeping yourself at optimal health means monitoring everything you put in there.

• Wash Your Hands Regularly

This one should be a no brainer but one thing we discovered across the country during lockdown was just how many people don’t wash their hands.

Handwashing doesn’t just protect you from viruses like the flu but also from all the other nasty bugs out there that can make you very poorly. Warm water, soap and 2 rounds of happy birthday in your head regularly throughout the day will help to reduce your chance of catching something awful and keep your hands smelling fresh and lovely!

Although we would recommend having sanitiser to hand, it should be used sparingly as it can damage your skin and kill the good bacteria that helps to keep you healthy. Washing your hands is more than enough when its done properly.

(Incidentally, if you are running short, we stock both antibacterial hand wash and hand sanitiser along with tissues and masks. Just give us a call!)

• Wrap up and get out in the winter sun

You would be well within your rights not to want to step over the door when the temperature drops. The weather is cold, the air is damp and unless the sun is shining, it can be thoroughly miserable. The reality is though, you are more prone to catching something inside than if you get yourself out and about in the fresh air regularly.

Regular exercise and fresh air not only boosts the immune system but also reduces stress and helps you sleep properly.

• Get Enough Shut Eye

Todays world moves so quickly and if we are honest, most of us are so busy between work, family, and just living that sleep can easily fall by the wayside. Tiredness impacts every area of our lives and lack of proper rest reduces the efficacy of our immune system making us more prone to infection and viruses. A solid 7-9 hours of good sleep – good being the operative word – will keep your immune system strong and your energy levels up.

If you are struggling with sleep, there are lots of things you can try. One of the Normedica ladies favourites is a guy called Jason Stephenson who does guided meditations. We highly recommend the Sleep Talk Down one. Rebecca still hasn’t made it to the end without disappearing into the Land of Nod! Check it out on the link below.

Jason Stephenson – Sleep Talk Down

• Try and Manage Stress Levels the Best You Can

One of todays biggest issues, stress has a massive impact on everything in your body. From high blood pressure to heart attacks and strokes, chronic stress can be a killer. Stress has also been tied to reduced immunity so from a cold and flu point of view, learning to manage it effectively can have a huge impact on your overall health.

Its important to determine where your stresses are coming from and then find ways of controlling them. Unfortunately, we can’t always walk away from them completely, but there are always things that you can put in place to help reduce and control stress in a way that will prevent it from impacting too much on your overall health.

Something as simple as stopping and taking some deep breaths, listening to your favourite music or reading a book can help you to unwind, relax and reduce the pressure.

• Humidify Even If Your Hair Hates You For It

This may seem like a strange one but when the air is cold and dry, you are more susceptible to infection. The mucous membranes in your throat and nose help to trap bacteria and prevent germs from getting into your system. Unfortunately, the cold weather tends to bring with it dry air both indoors and outdoors, drying out your nose and throat which leaves you prone to infections getting past your natural defences.

Using a humidifier in the house helps to keep the air moist which in turn helps to reduce the amount of dry air you are breathing in and hopefully prevent colds and flu from taking hold.

• Supplements. Supplements Everywhere!

We are only just starting to realise just how important supplementing our diets is, but unfortunately, along with that realisation comes a heavily saturated market that can be exceptionally difficult to navigate.

Without doing research, its difficult to be sure that the vitamins and supplements you buy to help keep your body healthy day to day are really of any use at all.

Well, shameless plug from the Normedica ladies. We have done our research and brought in a brand new range that are not only manufactured to pharmaceutical standards, but are also completely transparent about everything that goes into them. Pharma Nord are the industry standard when it comes to supplements and being able to bring them into Normedica is really exciting.

From a health point of view, every tablet they sell is designed to not only keep you healthy, but also help get your body back to peak condition. Obviously, that requires other elements being in place as well, but supplementing your diet with the vitamins you are missing out on day to day is a great place to start.

If you want any further information on the new ranges, give us a call on 0191 2867799 or drop us an email on sales@normedica.co.uk

We all know the winter is a thoroughly rubbish time of year, but with a little foresight and a focus on personal care, you can give yourself the best chance to make sure you don’t spend it feeling unwell.

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