The signals are red concerning the flu at the start of winter.
All regions of France are in the epidemic phase, according to the latest bulletin from
Public Health France
published on December 28.
When coughs, sneezes, and fever seem to surround us in our circle of loved ones or on public transport, it can seem difficult to escape viruses.
“Their transmission is mainly through saliva sputters and a little by touch, so by the hands,” immediately indicates Doctor Jean-Louis Bensoussan, general practitioner.
To prevent rather than cure, he gives six tips.
Wear a mask and wash your hands
Wearing a mask remains strongly recommended when you are close to someone likely to be sick, in public transport for example, insists Doctor Bensoussan.
In the same vein, it is better to avoid hugs and handshakes with our loved ones.
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In addition, the doctor recalls the importance of washing your hands several times a day, "with water, soap, for 30 seconds, rubbing all of your hands and between your fingers, he explains. .
For even more efficiency, you can rinse and then re-soap a second time.
Ventilate the rooms
If a member of our household is affected by a virus, “it is essential to ventilate the room regularly, that is to say 5 to 10 minutes every 2 hours, so that the air is well renewed, affirms the doctor.
And this, even if we wear masks.
Ventilation is even more important than cleaning door handles, he says, because transmission is mainly through the airways, via sneezing and coughing.
Clean your nose
In order not to catch a virus, you will have to take care to declutter your nasal passages.
“A virus will less easily “graft” onto a very clean nose than onto a congested nose.
If it is cleaned, the virus will not find favorable ground to develop”, specifies the doctor.
To ensure good nasal inspiration despite a stuffy nose or discharge, it is important to wash your nose daily with physiological serum.
To rest
A tired body will also weaken the immune system and will further favor the reception of a virus.
Irregular sleep would also be, according to Dr. Bensoussan, one of the reasons behind the strong resurgence of diseases around the holidays.
To remedy this, the doctor advises to sleep well and to have a vitamin C intake.
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Take care of your diet
Finally, a balanced diet is necessary to stabilize the body.
The contents of the plate must be vitaminized and contain five fruits and vegetables a day to stimulate the functioning of the immune system, assures the doctor.
The rhythm of meals should also be regular.
“The body doesn't like irregularities and changes in rhythm,” he says.
Thus, having dinner at 11 p.m. when one usually dines at 8 p.m. will disrupt certain functions, which will adversely affect the immune defense process.
Finally, Jean-Louis Bensoussan recalls the importance for people at risk of being vaccinated against the flu and Covid.
“It is never too late, he concludes, even if we are in the heart of the epidemic”.