Immunity is the season's magic word. When temperatures drop and windows and doors stay shut, viruses can thrive indoors; if your immune system isn't up to the task, you're likely to catch the latest bug to hit town. This means less energy, the possibility of health complications, and just plain old feeling awful. That's why it's essential to ward off the very real threat of colds, flu, and other scary winter germs lurking on every doorknob, in every public bathroom, and on every grab-rail of your morning train to work. (Here are 6 more ways to cruise through winter without getting sick.)
Each winter, these infections put millions of people out of commission, cost employers more than $20 billion in paid sick days, and send more than 200,000 sufferers to the hospital. So how do you protect yourself? We've compiled a list of exactly what you need—and what you should avoid—to stay healthy during cold and flu season. These ideas made the cut not because they have fancy names or pack 400% of your daily vitamin allowances, but because they're safe, they've proven their worth in clinical studies, and our trusted experts recommend them. (Want to prevent winter weight gain? Then check out Fit in 10, the new workout program you can do indoors that only takes 10 minutes a day.)
1. Get a flu shot.
An influenza vaccination can reduce the risk of flu illness by 50 to 60% in the general population and can decrease the severity and side effects if you get sick. So roll up your sleeve—the government says that this year there will be plenty to go around; the feds recommend flu shots for everyone ages 6 months and older.
The quadrivalent vaccine (which includes the nasal spray version approved for ages 2 to 49) inoculates against four different viruses and may offer better protection than the trivalent shot, which protects against three viruses. The best time to get inoculated is in October or November, a few weeks before flu season begins to peak, says Neil Schachter, MD, a professor of pulmonary medicine at Mount Sinai Medical Center and author of The Good Doctor's Guide to Colds & Flu.
2. Stock up on pens.
Cold and flu germs are easily passed through hand-to-hand contact, says Schachter, so any way you can avoid touching public objects—such as the communal pen at the bank—will cut your risk. Having your own supply of dime-a-dozen plastic ballpoints might just keep you from picking up a virus. (Here are 10 other common germ hot spots.)
"When you get up in the morning, don't leave the house without a pen in your pocket or your purse," Schachter suggests. "Take it wherever you go—and use your own instead of the doctor's, the delivery guy's, or the restaurant waiter's."
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