Pumpkin Spice is just around the corner, but so is flu season! Here are some key tips to stay healthy all fall.
Maybe you’re fired up for football, primed for carving pumpkins, or getting ready to give thanks. Even with all the fun that this season brings, there are also several health concerns to be aware of.
Autumn can be tricky to navigate. Between daylight savings, cold weather, and a spike in flu cases, it can be hard to stay healthy. These tips and tricks aren’t virus-proof, but they can help decrease your chances of spending the season being sick.
Fall’s Frequent Friend? The Flu (and now Covid)!
Fall is the official start of flu season, and while the vast majority of us have an expectation of what a standard flu can feel like, new strains can be serious. Adding COVID-19 to the mix has made the already sketchy season even more unpredictable. Even if you consider yourself a healthy person, getting a flu shot or booster goes a long way to prevent illness in yourself and transmission to those around you. In fact, having a flu shot reduces the risk of needing to go to the doctor by 40%-60%!
It’s also important to keep an eye on suspected symptoms. If you or your family members are starting to show signs of the flu, take time off work and isolate until those symptoms fade. The CDC recommends that you stay at home for at least 24 hours until your symptoms improve and you no longer have a fever.
The best thing to do to keep yourself protected ? Stay up to date with your vaccinations and boosters. According to the CDC, people who are up to date have lower risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19.
The good news is that protecting yourself from both the flu and COVID-19 has never been easier. You can get a booster shot for COVID-19 at the same time as your flu shot, which is perfect if you’re a bit squeamish around needles!
Get Help with Amaze
If you find yourself getting the sniffles (or if your kids start to get feverish), you’ll probably need an expert to help figure out what you need to do. This is where Amaze from Clearwater can help!
Our virtual doctors can diagnose, treat, prescribe medicine, and even write your kids a doctor’s note. Best of all? Amaze is on demand, 24 hours a day, with no appointments required and no per-visit fee.
Aggressive Autumn Allergies
One quarter of US Adults have seasonal allergies. If your eyes are watering and nose is running, you might be one of the 80 million people with seasonal allergies in the fall!
While there are medications you can take, avoiding pollen is the easiest way to reduce the severity of your symptoms. There are some simple solutions like:
- -Close your windows. Simply stay indoors to avoid the pollen.
- -Consider giving yourself some extra protection with an air purifier that can filter out the allergens that sneak into your home.
- -Wash your hands often to rinse any dirt and dust away. Keep your face clean as well to protect your nose from additional pollen.
- -Wearing any kind of mask can help stave off allergies by keeping irritants out of your nose (it doesn’t even have to be an N95).
- -Give your nose a hard blow, or use a Neti pot to really open things up!
Surprising Seasonal Superfoods
Fall is a fantastic time to indulge in delicious seasonal flavors and fantastic foods (not to mention all of the sweet treats we can find around Halloween)! While everyone has their own nutritional goals, sometimes you can feel a bit lost with the scrumptious spreads that surround us on Thanksgiving, Halloween, and yes, even National Grandparents Day.
Looking for some guidance? You can book a fast and free consultation with Amaze! Our nutritionists can create a plan that matches your dietary needs and ensures that you can enjoy all of the scrumptious spreads while maintaining your goals.
Sometimes the best way to find balance is to source your own healthy alternatives to the autumnal feasts. There are so many fantastic fall foods in season from Apples to Zucchini.
For my favorite fall treat, look no further than your Jack O Lantern! Pumpkin is packed with beta-carotene and vitamin A, C, and E. Remember, the best pumpkin is raw pumpkin. Make sure to toast the seeds as a delicious snack!
You might be feeling SAD
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is depression brought on by a change in seasons and is compounded by a lack of natural sunlight. To avoid this, make sure you’re getting plenty of vitamin D, a healthy amount of sleep, and you might even want to try some light therapy to help get back on your normal circadian rhythm.
The best way to avoid SAD? Walk away from the screen and get outside! And while you’re out there, go ahead and toss a football around. Forget that sweltering summer and enjoy the crisp, cold air. It’s fall y’all!
