Several habits are beneficial for good health in every season, but these tips offered by Henderson’s Pharmasave can help us stay healthy this winter. Check the Virus Checklist, continue to hydrate, wear sunglasses and sunscreen and get enough vitamin D. Ask a pharmacist at Henderson’s Pharmacy for advice on your overall health concerns.
Virus Checklist
Follow these tips offered by Henderson’s Pharmasave to help stop the spread of viruses by using these good health habits:
• Wash your hands often with soap and warm water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer
• Sneeze and cough into your elbow
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth
• Avoid contact with people who are sick
• Stay home if you are sick
• Wear a mask
Cold and Flu Season
Fight back this cold and flu season. Your pharmacist at Henderson’s Pharmacy can recommend over-the-counter medications to help you feel better at home.
Fall Prevention
Watch your step! Colleen Hughes, the home care specialist at Henderson’s Pharmacy can recommend mobility aids, review your medication, and provide advice on how to avoid slips and trips.
Sip plenty of water: You probably drink plenty of water when the weather is hot, but what about when the weather changes? Though colder temps may mean you sweat less, your body still needs adequate hydration to stay healthy and to keep your skin from becoming too dry. Hot cocoa, teas, and other cozy beverages will provide some of your daily water needs, but you’ll still want to have a bottle or glass handy.
Wear Sunscreen and Sunglasses
Wear sunscreen: It’s another habit that simply seems more natural in June than January. Thing is, the sun on a bright winter’s day can be just as damaging to your skin. Not to mention all of the light that reflects off of the ice and snow. Since skin tends to dry in the winter, wear a daily moisturizer containing a minimum of SPF 15.
Don’t forget your sunglasses: You’d wear sunglasses while strolling on a sunny beach, right? So why not when you’re walking in a winter whiteout? Snow actually reflects much more UV light than dry sand. And the harm those rays can do to our eyes remains the same no matter what the temperature. So don’t pack away those sunglasses with your swimsuits and beach towels!
Take Vitamin D Daily
Get your daily dose of vitamin D: Sunshine wanes in the winter, as the days grow shorter and shorter and we head into hibernation mode. Less time with the sun on our skin deprives of us of one of the best, most natural sources of vitamin D (10 minutes in the sun is thought to provide enough to meet your daily needs). Vitamin D helps our bodies absorb calcium to maintain healthy bones. Find vitamin D in foods like eggs and milk, and fatty fish like salmon. Or you can take a supplement containing 600 IU (international units) to 1000 IU of vitamin D if you are under 70, or 800 IU to 1000 IU if you are over 70. Ask your doctor or pharmacist what strength supplement you’ll need