Cold and Flu

There's nothing worse than having to bail on fun Summer plans because you're feeling under the weather. You may think you're clear just because the weather is warmer, but it's not the case! Summer bugs run rampant through offices all over the country. While eating healthy and keeping active will only help you on your healthy mission, there are definitely some precautions you can take at your workspace to keep things fresh and keep those germs at bay.

• Employ fresh air: One of the biggest contributors to Summer colds is constant AC contact. If you can open some windows to get things flowing, you'll be in way better shape than if your AC is on full blast day in and day out.
• Keep your water bottle fresh: We know that drinking water throughout the day helps flush your system, and hopefully you've already made the simple shift to a reusable water bottle. It's easy to forget, but it's integral to clean your water bottle often.
• Have tissues handy: No more sleeves or searching for an old napkin. Having a box of tissues handy at your desk will be a huge lifesaver. It also makes it easier to wipe down surfaces whenever you get a quick shot.
• Clean those keys: Keyboards are laden with a crazy amount of germs! I know that I definitely was worried about messing something up in the technology department. No need to fear: it's easy to clean your laptop or clean your desktop keyboard.

Keep reading for two more easy ways to keep your desk free of germs.

There are just not enough hours in the day sometimes, especially when the hectic holidays come around. And all the fun and obligations of the season can equal one thing — stress — which can lead to sickness. Stress has been shown to suppress your immune system by raising your levels of the hormone cortisol (which can also lead to other unwanted side effects like insomnia and weight gain). Help counteract the immunity-decreasing effects of the holidays by remembering to make time to exercise regularly and get enough sleep.

A recent study found that people who exercised consistently five times a week were much less likely to get sick — the exercisers were about 40 percent less likely to catch a cold. That may be because aerobic activity helps keep the immunity cells active in your body. Consistent quality sleep, too, is key to boosting your immunity; studies have shown that well-rested people were less likely to catch a cold than those who slept fewer than seven hours a night.

Not to worry if you think you can't fit exercise or sleep into your schedule, however. You can get the immunity-boosting effects of exercise on just 20 minutes a day, so even if you can't get through your normal exercise routine, every little bit helps. Here are some 20-minute cardio workout ideas to help you get started. And remember that the quality of your sleep matters as much as your quantity. Make those nighttime hours count with these tips for getting quality sleep.

I love the crisp, colder weather of Autumn, but I hate that it also signals the start of cold and flu season. There are plenty of things you can do throughout your day to prevent catching a cold, but here are five things you should keep in mind specifically on weekends.

Don't Overdo It on the Booze
I don't blame you for wanting to de-stress from your crazy work week by letting loose with a drink but be mindful of how much you're kicking back. Heavy alcohol consumption doesn't do your immune system any good, and also dehydrates you body. It's OK to relax with a glass of wine or a cocktail, but one should be your limit. Sip water with your alcoholic bevvy to stay hydrated (since that also prevents colds), and don't let alcohol tempt you to smoke socially (smokers are more prone to getting sick).

Take Time to Chill
Weekends tend to be for catching up on errands you didn't get to all week, but all that running around is sure to run down your immune system. Take time each day to relax whether it's by sleeping in, getting to bed a little early, lounging on the couch with a good book, or taking a stroll with a friend.

Keep reading for three more ways to prevent catching a cold on the weekend.

Spring may be right around the corner, but don't let your guard down just yet — cold season is still in full effect! The combination of dry Winter's air, a turned up thermostat, and closed windows can wreak havoc on your respiratory system.

The best way to combat dry air and reduce your susceptibility to infection is to invest in a humidifier. Aside from babies and my parents, I didn't know why someone like me would benefit from using one. But, after a few too many colds throughout the past few months, I knew it was time to see what this said "miracle gizmo" was about. Here's what's great about humidifiers:

• Yummy moist air: Thanks to the nice hydrated air a humidifier creates, the insides of your nose and lungs will stay moist, allowing the tiny hairs inside to block the dust and bacteria.
• Aids in the healing process: Whether it be a cold, asthma, or allergies, a humidifier keeps your lungs more elastic and your nasal passages lubricated — both necessary in speeding up the healing process. For allergy sufferers, there are humidifiers that are specially designed to purify the air as well.

Here are more reasons why I love humidifiers.

Women may not get as many stress-induced colds as men, but sometimes no one's immune system is a match for the perils of cold and flu season. Whether you're braving life outside your home with a cold or just trying to navigate your way through all the sneezing and coughing surrounding you, here are some ways to prevent the spread of those nasty microbes.

• Avoid gym germs. The gym can be rife with bacteria and germs, so take precautions every time you go, including washing your hands when you get there, using your own clean towel every time, and never reusing gym clothes without washing them.
• Stock up on sanitizers. Studies have shown that workers who use hand sanitizers regularly take fewer sick days, so keep some at your desk or in your purse. You'll also be helping their office-mates fight the spread of germs!
• Don't infect the whole class. If you've already come down with a bug, be considerate and work out at home. No one wants to deal with your sniffles or dodge your sneezes during mat time.
• Know when to stay home. If you're sick, it's not only yoga class that you need to skip. If you feel like you're coming down with something, have a fever, or have several other symptoms, it's time to call in and work from home or take a day to rest.

Stress is no good for the immune system and can make you vulnerable to upper respiratory viruses, aka the common cold. One common source of stress is work, and a new study found that men were more likely to catch colds while dealing with workplace stress than their female coworkers.

The study followed 1,241 workers after assessing their stress levels based on demands of the job, job control, and social support. The men who reported stress at the beginning of the study were much more likely to report colds than women. There was no "significant association" between women's stress levels and their developing colds. A couple of months ago we learned that women tend to be more resilient than men after traumatic injury, which scientists believe is a product of evolution. Not sure if that is the answer here, but is this your experience? Do you see a correlation between work stress and colds in the men in your life?

A little cold I can handle, even a sinus infection, but the flu? I don't remember ever feeling as bad as I did the week I came down with the flu. I was so delirious from my 103° fever, and combined with the chills, body aches, and pounding headache, it was just unbearable. To prevent feeling that horrible every year, I make sure to head to my doctor's office for a flu shot, but it doesn't always work since it doesn't protect against all strains. So when I read that UK researchers may have created a universal flu shot, I became quite hopeful.

This vaccine is different from current flu vaccines because it targets the proteins inside the flu virus rather than the proteins on the external coat. These interior proteins are similar across all strains of the flu and less likely to mutate, so this one vaccine could be used to prevent all types of flu. Another difference is that this new treatment helps boost the production of T-cells which can identify, attack, and kill infected cells. So it's much more effective than today's vaccine that just stimulates the body to produce antibodies to fight the flu. If this new vaccine is successful, it could prevent future nasty outbreaks like the swine flu and H1N1.

I don't know about you, but it'd be a huge relief during cold and flu season to get one shot and know I'd never have to suffer in bed surrounded by snotty tissues again.

'Tis the season for colds and the flu, and it's also New Year's resolution time. Couple those together, and I've seen one too many sick Sallies in the Saturday morning yoga class I teach. This Vinyasa style class is fast and sweaty, so I get a lot of type A personality students who like to work hard. That also means they feel bad missing a class. Last weekend, one person came dragging in with her rolled mat in one hand and a big wad of tissues in the other. I didn't want to bring attention to her, in case she was going through something emotional, so I just let her mosey on over to her favorite corner spot by the window.

As we began warming up through variations of Sun Salutations, she proceeded to sneeze, cough, and blow her nose throughout the 90 minutes. I realized she wasn't sad; she was sick. I'm sure in her mind she thought that "sweating it out" would help her illness pass through faster, but I kept catching glares from the other students in the class every time she reached for a tissue. I tried to think positive thoughts, since cursing her in my mind wouldn't be very yogic of me, but I too was really upset with her. The room was small, the doors and windows were closed, and all I could think about was, "I'm gonna end up with her cold."

If you only have a sniffle and runny nose and no fever, it's safe to exercise, but you need to be considerate of other people. A good sweat session on the mat may be just the thing to cure your ills, just stick to practicing at home instead of heading to the studio.