Winter months bring a clear increase in cold and flu cases. For minor ailments such as a cough or cold, as the pharmacist, you are often the first point of contact to assist customers to cope with symptoms.
Pharmacies play a critical role in helping our communities remain healthy over the colder season. However, if you are not looking after myself, you won’t be able to look after those in your local community.
To make sure you stay healthy, there are a few things you can do:
- Book yourself in for a flu shot and ensure this is before the flu season hits. With this flu season being in the middle of a global pandemic, getting the annual flu shot is important to avoid adding pressure to an already busy healthcare industry.
- Get up-to-date with general health check with your GP.
- Wash your hands frequently – either using soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitiser. This will keep you from spreading germs to your eyes, nose, or mouth.
- Take extra care that your work area remains clean. Many hygiene practices have been implemented to slow the spread of COVID-19. These have been extremely beneficial and should ideally remain in place post-pandemic. This includes the use of plastic screens and face masks.
- Continue to wear a mask if you feel unwell so that you do not affect you rcustomers or staff.
- Strive to include fruits, vegetables, and whole grains in your diet to maintain a strong immune system. Supporting a healthy diet should be a regular exercise routine and a good amount of sleep.
With COVID-19 being an ongoing concern, experts are struggling to anticipate what cold and flu season might be like in terms of not just the infection rate, but also the availability of resources to keep the sick from getting sicker. It is best to prevent rather than treat the flu, but even if you do get vaccinated, you might still get sick. The 2021 flu season is upon us and no matter how you look at it, it is vital to do all that you can to protect yourself.
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