Health Tips for Flu Season

WESTLAND, Mich.,–– If you've noticed more coughing around you at work, or that more and more people aren't showing up to work, school, or social events, you're not crazy. The flu is hitting Michigan, and the United States as a whole, hard right now. Most of us lead busy lives with work, family, and everything else, and simply don't have time to get sick. Not to mention, the flu is terrible! No one wants to feel awful, so we've got some health tips for flu season that'll help get you out alive and well.

1. Wash Your Hands & Pay Attention to What You Touch

It's flu season which means now is the time to bring yourself back to your kindergarten roots! Make sure to wash your hands through the entire birthday song or alphabet song with soap and warm water to rid of germs. It's also good to pay attention to what items you touch throughout the day. If you're touching "high-traffic" items such as the drinking fountain at work, the bathroom door handle, someone else's keyboard, avoid touching your mouth, nose, and eyes as these areas are gateways to your immune system.

2. Eat Healthy!

It's fine to indulge in a burger or some decadent dessert here and there, but it's more beneficial to eat foods that will benefit your immune system regularly! Eating healthy doesn't mean you need to eat a salad at every meal, but you can aim to eat less processed food and hit the major food groups within your meals, i.e. fruits and vegetables alongside nutritious proteins like poultry, legumes, etc. Don't be afraid to work up some soup recipes if you're feeling down. Broth and veggies together can help comfort a sore throat or aching stomach and are healthy, too!

3. Consume More H2O

Although simple, this health tip is used often for many reasons. Water not only keeps you hydrated should you already be sick and need to replace fluids in your body, but it also helps you flush some of the bad stuff out if you're harboring any flu germs. Water overall helps your body function optimally to help you get over a flu or prevent it. The recommendation is to drink half your body weight in ounces of water, but simply having a few extra glasses than you normally do should help!

4. Get Active

Exercise is another factor that can help boost your immune system. It can be a simple walk outside or an extra sweaty cardio session at the gym OR you can work on training for our 5K Fun Run happening in May! Whatever method you choose, make sure you're getting your heart rate up and are breathing heavier than normal. Cardiovascular exercise can help excavate bacteria out of you lungs and airways. Plus, the feel-good endorphins you get when working out can make you feel happy during the gray winter days. If you do go to the gym, just make sure to wipe down your machines before using to avoid picking something up.

5. Stay Home

Even if you're a person who's overwhelmed at work and think staying home will only hurt your schedule, don't come in if you have the flu! If you feel like you're getting sick, or are already sick, take caution and protect others around you. There's no sense in you exhausting your energy or spreading your illness onto others. Take time to rest at home with some water, vitamins, and honest rest.

6. Get More Sleep

Again, this is a simple health rule but extra sleep when your immune system is compromised is crucial! Make sure you're getting 8 hours of good solid sleep each night, and more if you're feeling extra sick. If it helps put you to rest, take some cold medicine before you conk out to ensure your body is fighting the sickness while you sleep. Getting more rest allows your body to fight off any flu germs and revive itself so you can do what you need to the next day. 

We hope these health tips for flu season have you feeling better in no time! It's our goal to help your car feel better in no time when it's feeling down in the dumps. We're here to help with any routine maintenance like oil changes, tire rotations, and brake inspections, along with bigger tasks like transmission repairs, belt replacements, etc. You can conveniently schedule your service appointment check in time online, or by giving us a call! Alternatively if you're looking to upgrade to a more "healthy" vehicle, we can help with that too. 

North Brothers Ford is located at 33300 Ford Rd Westland, MI 48185 and proudly serves as one of the premier dealerships in Metro Detroit, and is committed to exceptional customer service! Stop by or give us a call at 888-806-7163, our knowledgeable and helpful sales team will be more than happy to assist you!

Visit our website: www.northbros.com

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