Mount Carmel Urgent Care is dedicated to helping patients get well and stay well. Since we are currently at the height of the flu season, it is important to know how to best protect yourself and your loved ones from the spread—especially as we enter the holiday season and approach the new year! To prevent the flu, you can put healthy practices in place, like getting your flu shots in Columbus, OH. Here are a few habits that can help you fight off the flu in 2022.
1. Keep Your Hands Clean
Keeping your hands clean is one of the easiest ways to prevent the spread of germs and virus particles. Whether you have regular access to soap and warm water or keep alcohol-based hand sanitizer close by, you can quickly and easily wash away dirt and grime. Remember to always wash your hands before eating, especially after touching high-traffic surfaces like doorknobs and countertops. And, avoid touching your face as this can easily introduce the virus to your eyes, nose, or mouth.
2. Cough or Sneeze Into Your Elbow
When you sneeze or cough, liquid particles can be transferred from your mouth to surfaces, skin, and fabric. Or they can simply remain trapped in the air. Contain infected droplets by sneezing or coughing into the bend of your elbow! This keeps particles from traveling to others and keeps your hands clean. If you do happen to cough into your hands, make sure to wash them immediately with antibacterial soap.
3. Avoid Contact With Others, Especially If You Are Sick
Christmas and New Year’s are highly social holidays spent with friends and family. Unfortunately, this can also make it much easier to spread the flu. If you or a loved one are experiencing flu symptoms or have tested positive for the virus, avoid contact with others until you are well. Active symptoms, especially a fever, can be highly contagious. Protect your family and promote faster recovery by distancing yourself from others and avoiding close, in-person contact with those who are sick! And if you are interested in flu shots or have the flu or its symptoms, visit our urgent care in Columbus, OH as soon as possible.
4. Practice Healthy Daily Habits
Regular healthy habits can play a huge part in your daily wellness. Eat balanced meals with plenty of nutrients. Strive to drink at least 64 ounces of water during the day to stay hydrated. And if possible, get at least 15 minutes or more of activity each day. A walk around the neighborhood, a bike ride, or an at-home yoga session can help to increase your heart rate, burn calories, and boost your immune system. Together, these factors of a regular wellness routine can help to prevent viral infections like the flu!
5. Get Your Flu Shots to Ward Off the Virus
One of the best ways to strengthen your immune system is by getting the seasonal flu vaccine. Each year, different variations of the flu spread, typically starting in October and lasting through the following May. By getting your flu shot in October, your immune system can begin producing antibodies to fight off the current active strain of the virus. Even if you don’t get your shot in October, it is still recommended that you get your vaccine while flu cases are actively being experienced. That means that getting your flu shots from Mount Carmel Urgent Care in Columbus, OH, can help you to enter the new year with added immunity!
Visit Our Urgent Care For Flu Shots in Columbus, OH
It’s virtually never too late to get your flu shot. Visit us today to get flu shots for your family in Columbus, OH! Our East Broad urgent care center is open and ready to help protect you and your loved ones from the flu. Give us a call at 614-986-7752 or check-in online. You can keep track of your wait time through our website or stay in our lobby until your appointment time. With flu shots and other flu services, we can help you to enter the new year feeling your best!