Supercharge Your Immune System
As we head into the fall and early winter, schedules get hectic with travel, parties, and longer to-do lists. All of these things, along with colder temperatures, can stress your immune system and increase the possibility of getting sick. While a sore throat, lingering cough, moderate fever, or stomach discomfort are unwelcome, they usually aren’t medical emergencies. From October 2023 through March 2024, REMSA Health received more than 3,400 calls for these types of minor seasonal complaints – which can mean that our crews are unavailable for calls such as cardiac arrest, stroke, or severe allergic reactions. Read on for ways you can help REMSA Health preserve 9-1-1 resources for real emergencies by boosting your immune system and reducing your risk of catching respiratory or GI illnesses this season.
For older adults, the immune system slows because there are fewer immune cells, and they don’t communicate with each other well to fight germs or heal wounds. However, there are ways to give your system the best chance at staying healthy – and you are probably already familiar with many. Eating a healthy diet of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein, drinking water, getting between seven and eight hours of sleep every night, not smoking or consuming alcohol, reducing stress, and exercising regularly are the cornerstones of physical wellness.
Next, make sure you are up to date on your vaccinations. For senior adults, the CDC recommends a series of vaccines, including pneumonia and shingles, RSV for people 75 and older, and the most current flu shot and COVID-19 vaccine, as well as tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis vaccine and/or booster. You should speak to your doctor about what is right for you. Vaccines protect you and the people around you – like the family and friends you’ll be seeing over the next few months.
While it might be tempting to stay home from the book club or the family dinner as a way of avoiding germs, this may not necessarily be a useful strategy. Staying home if you’re sick or not getting together with someone if they are ill, is the right choice. However, people who stay active and are in contact with different environments typically have stronger immune systems.
Finally, a recent AARP article mentions an Australian study that found that we touch our faces 23 times an hour, and nearly half of those involve the mouth, nose, or eyes, which are all easy places for viruses and bacteria to enter our bodies. Avoid touching your face to protect against contagious diseases like flu or COVID-19, and regularly wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for about 20 seconds.
Now, head outside for a walk, enjoy colorful veggies and a protein-packed dinner, get to sleep on time and schedule your vaccine appointments. Then, RSVP yes for that holiday party and book that winter getaway because your immune system is boosted.
