Top tips to boost your immune system for the winter
Healthy habits can help you stave off the worst of the winter colds. If a more severe epidemic comes along, such as a particularly virulent strain of influenza, then a strong immune system could quite literally save your life.
As we become older, our immune system starts to weaken, and for those with underlying health issues or who have undergone aggressive treatments, such as chemotherapy, this can be a real worry.
However, there are tried and tested ways to boost and strengthen your immune system. At Premier Care in Bathing, we’ve come up with these handy tips to keep you healthy over winter.
- Get your flu shot
Nothing breaks down the immune system like the influenza virus. Every strain is different, which is why you need to get a new shot each year. For the over 65s and those with health issues, such as heart or respiratory conditions, the shot is free of charge. You may feel a little rough for a day or so, but it will give your immune system a fighting chance in the event of a ‘flu outbreak.
- Stay active
Photo by Andrii Podilnyk on Unsplash
Physical activity not only keeps you mobile and provides an endorphin boost, it can also improve the effectiveness of your circulatory system, including your heart.
Exercise can be as gentle or as high-energy as you want. Why not adopt a dog from a local shelter and get out for a daily walk?
- Keep your stress levels down
From money worries to health issues and feelings of loneliness, stress has been medically proven to compromise not just your mental well-being, but your physical health, too. Isolation is a particularly big problem for older people, so combat the effects of stress by joining a meet-and-greet club or by taking up a hobby that enables you to expand your social circle.
- Get enough sleep
Sleep gives the body a chance to recover and repair, so getting enough zeds is vitally important. It has also been shown to improve the body's response to medication such as the ‘flu vaccine.
It doesn't matter too much how long you sleep for; it's the quality of your sleep that counts. Get an activity wristband that provides a daily biometric readout showing your sleep patterns to ensure you’re getting enough deep and REM sleep.
- Give yourself a vitamin boost
There's one crucial vitamin that your body needs for a robust immune system: the ‘Sunshine' vitamin, Vitamin D. It’s a great incentive to get outdoors, even if only for 15 minutes a day, which is long enough to give you a good dose of Vit D.
- Start the day off with a superfood or two
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Not only is a bowl of porridge a great way to start the day, but the antioxidant and anti-microbial properties of this super grain give your immune system a real boost, too. Add a little honey to it, and you'll be doubling down on superfoods, as honey is also said to have excellent healing properties.
- Laugh and the world laughs with you
Laughter is the best medicine; not only can it elevate your mood, it gets your heart pumping, too. Put on a funny film and have a good chuckle – your immune system will thank you for it!
- Keep up with your personal hygiene
It can be tempting to skip your bath or shower, especially when the temperature drops and a comfy chair by the fire seems more appealing. However, staying clean is an essential part of your immune system care routine.
If you’re worried about slipping and falling in the shower or bath, check out how our range of walk-in baths and showers can restore your faith in bathing. They’re affordable, comfortable, and there’s nothing like a warm bath to help you relax at the end of a busy day. You’ll be boosting your skin’s health and your well-being at the same time.
All of these little things can go a long way to maintaining not just a great immune system, but a healthy mind and body, too. If you plan ahead, you'll stand a much great chance of an illness-free winter.