Surviving the Holidays: 10 Tips for Staying Healthy

The holidays are here and with them family, friends, parties and germs. This year, in light of the H1N1 outbreak, many fear that the most wonderful time of the year will end up being the unhealthiest, too.

“While crowded shopping malls and holiday parties certainly increase our risk of getting sick this time of year, there are many precautions you can take to stay healthy,” said Gillian Stephens, M.D., assistant professor of family and community medicine at Saint Louis University School of Medicine.

Here are Stephen’s top 10 strategies for protecting yourself and your family during the holidays.

WHILE AT THE PARTY

1. Keep your distance – For many, the holidays are about being close to family and friends, but Stephens recommends not getting too close. Cold and flu germs are spread through water droplets from your mouth and nose. By staying three to six feet away from other guests – especially those who appear to be sick – you can decrease your risk of getting sick. Before giving grandma a hug, Stephens also recommends turning your face to avoid close face-to-face contact.

Flu germs also can live on many surfaces for up to 48 hours, so beware of common shared items such as the telephone, remote control, door handles and utensils.

2. Wash your hands frequently – The best cold and flu is the one you never catch. To avoid getting sick, frequently wash your hands with warm water and soap or hand sanitizer, especially before eating or touching your eyes and nose. Stephens recommends carrying a small bottle of hand sanitizer in your pocket for convenience.

Hand sanitizing is especially important for small children who tend to put things in their mouths and touch each other.

3. Beware of the buffet table – Calories are not the only things lurking at the buffet table, germs are too. As the host, you can cut down on sharing germ by serving food in single portions or with utensils. As a party guest, don’t double dip or snack directly from the buffet.

4. Don’t drink in excess – Alcohol is often more available around the holidays, but Stephens says it’s important not to drink more than one or two alcoholic beverages per day. Excessive drinking is dangerous for many reasons. People lose their inhibitions when drinking which can lead to unhealthy and dangerous decisions such as driving while intoxicated. Alcohol also has a lot of calories and can easily bust your diet.

5. Stay home if you’re sick – While no one wants to miss the party, do yourself and your loved ones a favor and stay home when you’re not feeling well. While it’s probably safe to attend the party with a slight cold, Stephens recommends staying home if you have symptoms such as a sore throat, runny nose, coughing, or if you have a fever or body aches. If you are staying with relatives and become ill, ask for a private room if possible.