How to Avoid Getting Sick

Noor Jahanshahi, Health and Leisure Section Editor

  1. Wash your hands!

Yes, it’s true: maintaining your hygiene, whether you are sick or not, is very important to your health. A great trick to make sure your hands are super clean is by singing Happy Birthday TWICE (in your head or out loud; whichever works), while washing your hands.

Courtesy of WordPress
Courtesy of WordPress

 2. Try Eating More Garlic

I know, garlic stinks. But, garlic is a great infection fighter and can boost your immune system. The best way to improve your immune system is to eat raw and fresh garlic cloves everyday! Garlic is also supposed to help improve a number of brain functions, including memory (at least it did so in rats).

Courtesy of Wikimedia
Courtesy of Wikimedia

     3. Sleep for at least 8 hours!

I realize this is hard to do, with all the homework that we get, but just do it! Studies have shown that people who sleep for seven hours are more susceptible to flu viruses than those who sleep for 8 hours.  So yes, cozy up into bed a little earlier from now on. 

Courtesy of iFitnessNH.com
Courtesy of iFitnessNH.com

   4. Drink more tea

Breathing in the steam from your tea stimulates the hair follicles in your nose so that the hairs can move out germs more efficiently. 

Courtesy of Dance Magazine
Courtesy of Dance Magazine

THINGS TO DO TO STOP THE SPREAD OF YOUR SICKNESS:

   1. Cover your cough, with your ELBOW!!

Covering your cough with your hands, (ew!), puts the germs onto your hands (GROSS), then they are transferred to everything you touch (WORSE), making other people sick (TERRIBLE). Don’t do it! Use your elbow!

Courtesy of Sheknows.com
Courtesy of Sheknows.com

     2. Stay home from school.

I know, I know, it might be reducing the number of absences you have left, but when you are REALLY sick please stay home. Coming to school sick just sets off a cycle: you get sick, your best friend gets sick, a teacher gets sick, the whole school gets sick, then, you get sick again.

Courtesy of Wikimedia
Courtesy of Wikimedia

      3. Clean and Disinfect surfaces that you touch

Carrying small packets of wipes can slow down the cycle sickness. Cleaning off the germs is a great way to help others avoid your sickness!

Courtesy of DGC
Courtesy of DGC

      4. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth

Germs almost always spread when a person touches a surface or object that has germs on it. After touching the surface, the germs are on the person’s hand and are transferred into their body by rubbing their eyes or nose.

Courtesy of Dreams Time
Courtesy of Dreams Time