How to Stay Healthy During and After This Time of Crisis
By now we have all learned of the importance of social distancing to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus and reduce the incidence of COVID-19, and I urge you to adhere to distancing recommendations. This includes avoiding contact with groups of people, even small groups of close friends, unfortunately. Also, washing your hands constantly and cleaning commonly touched surfaces is a must for all of us, especially now.
Aside from measures to prevent the immediate spread of the coronavirus, it is important to practice daily habits that will keep your immune system as strong as possible and give you the ability to fend off whatever illness comes your way. The following suggestions are not specific to COVID-19 or any other infection or illness, but are still important to put into practice on a daily basis.
- Get Plenty of Rest: Provide time for rest and repair by getting at least 7-8 hours of sleep per night if you can. Even if you are home most or all of the time now, try to stay on a consistent schedule of going to bed around the same time and rising at approximately the same time. Friendly tip: that next episode on Netflix will still be there tomorrow, so go get some rest.
- Hydrate: Help keep every system in your body functioning properly. Hydrating can increase your energy and help your cells naturally eliminate toxins and bacteria that might contribute to illness, while helping in the transport of good nutrients into cells. There is no agreed-upon amount that everyone should be drinking all day (8 cups per day might be good for some people, but might not work for others). In order to stay hydrated I recommend gradually drinking moderate amounts of fluid all day long. Keep a glass or bottle with you when you’re at your desk or spending time with the kids.
- Eat Lots of Fruits and Vegetables: Provide your body with the micronutrients (what you might find in a vitamin) and more importantly phytonutrients (even smaller elements only found in whole food) that it needs to keep you healthy and fight off infection. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables will help set the environment in your body to fight off infections and stay well.
- Continue to Exercise: Gyms are closed and your schedule is not the same, but remember that moderate exercise can boost your immune system. Take a run or a vigorous walk outside while still practicing social distancing, or find activities at home that you can do for 30-60 minutes. It will help you stay well and feel better mentally and physically!
- Reduce Your Stress: Prolonged periods of stress can weaken your immune system. Take some time for yourself each day and do something healthy to reduce your stress. Meditation, practicing yoga, or even finding a quiet place to read for fun are a few healthy ways to reduce your level of stress. Whatever it is for you, find something you can do to relax and make it a part of your daily schedule.
For the next few weeks, Barlas Chiropractic will continue to be open for reduced hours Monday’s, Wednesday’s, and Friday’s, and by appointment-only other days of the week. As stated in a previous email, we are cleaning the office vigilantly and have no more than 2-4 people in the office at a time. Dr. Barlas has been wearing a medical mask while treating. If you would like treatment or have questions or concerns about your health during this time don’t hesitate to be in contact with us.
The most common symptoms of the illness are fever, cough, and shortness of breath. For questions about COVID-19 testing and other FAQ’s, here is a helpful link to the Washington State Department of Health’s page:
https://www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/Coronavirus .
Stay Healthy,
Science Sources
https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/how-to-boost-your-immune-system
https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/how-much-water-should-you-drink
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