Winter months always seem to bring an onset of colds, ear infections and of course, the flu. One myth out there is that a change in weather causes colds. According to Robert Bradsher, M.D., director of University of Arkansas Medical Centers´ division of infectious diseases, cold weather usually makes people stay indoors, which might increase the person-to-person transmission of respiratory viruses. "These viruses, including influenza, are very infectious and are transmitted from one person to the next by touching something that has had the respiratory virus on it and then touching your eye or nose or mouth. Some believe that the lower humidity during the winter allows these viruses to persist longer in the environment.
There is nothing more miserable than a workplace full of sick people. Not only are you an unproductive employee if you show up to work sick, but you run the risk of infecting other employees. Of course we cannot always avoid certain illnesses, but the key to making it through the winter months healthily is to minimize sickness from the start. A friend of mine, who is a doctor of oriental medicine, always says "It is better to stay well than to get well". How very true this is.
There are several solutions to minimizing sickness in the workplace. There is a product I recommend called Airborne, http://www.airbornehealth.com, which was created by Victoria Knight-McDowell, who is a second grade teacher who was tired of always picking up sickness from her students. You can purchase it online or at any major drugstore. Everyone has been told the importance of frequent hand washing. It is also a wise idea to sanitize door knobs, computer keyboards, and telephones. If there are windows in your office, open them to bring in the fresh, clean air.
I shouldn´t have to say this, but certain things never cease to amaze me. Never sneeze or cough into your hand, especially if you greet people with a handshake! Shield your sneezing and coughing with your arm. And please, please do not blow your nose or gurgle your throat around your fellow co-workers and then place your tissues at the conference table where everyone else is sitting. A little common courtesy goes a very long way.
Finally, keep healthy by drinking large amounts of water (no dairy products), take a lot of vitamin c and get plenty of rest (at home of course). In our household, we mix hot water with freshly squeezed lemon and salt" try it, it works.
