Staying Healthy During the Holidays

Posted on: 08 December, 2017

Viruses

1. Wash your hands. Viruses and bacteria are found everywhere including surfaces that people are commonly in contact with. Common points of entry of these viruses include the mouth and nose. That is why it is important to wash your hands with soap and water before eating meals or after going to the restroom. An alternative to soap and water is to use hand sanitizer as it can help prevent drying out your hands from over-washing with water.

2. Get the flu vaccine. Every year, upwards to 20% of the US population is affected by the flu, which can lead to sick days and hospitalization. This can be prevented with the flu vaccine. The most common flu vaccine is inactivated, meaning it does not contain live viruses. The inactivated flu vaccine is relatively safe and indicated for people 6 months and older. If there is a history of severe adverse reaction to the flu vaccine or other concern, it’s important to speak with your allergist about this.

3. Eat a balanced diet. As the holiday approaches it important to maintain a healthy diet which includes eating varied foods among different food groups. Foods are an important source of vitamins, which are micronutrients that are vital for the body’s immune system. Vitamin deficiencies have been
linked with respiratory infections to other symptoms such as fatigue and bone loss. Most people get enough vitamins through their diet, although if there is concern about this, it is important to get evaluated.

4. Get enough sleep. As you celebrate the holidays with your family, make sure to get your beauty sleep! Sleep deprivation has a multitude of effects on the body and mind including increasing irritability and cognitive impairment to increasing susceptibility to infection. In one study, shorter
sleep durations were correlated with increasing susceptibility to the common cold.

Flatiron Allergy and Asthma wishes you and your family a happy and healthy holiday season! If you have any questions on managing your allergies, please do not hesitate to reach us at (303) 862-3303.

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Conditions Treated

Allergy Shots

Allergy immunotherapy, also called “allergy shots,” is prescribed to modify the immune system’s response to allergens with the goal of minimizing and/or preventing an allergen initiated inflammatory response.
Allergy Drops & Tablets

Allergy drops, and tablets are two forms of sublingual immunotherapy that are injection-free alternatives to allergy shots. Both contain environmental allergen such as pollen, dust mites, molds, cat, or dog.
Asthma

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory lung condition that usually starts in childhood but can occur at any age. Allergists are considered the experts in asthma and diagnose this condition by history, exam and breathing tests of the airways.
Allergy & Sinus

Allergic rhinitis is one of the most common chronic conditions in the US. Individuals with allergic rhinitis develop allergy antibodies (IgE) targeted against allergens including pollen, animal proteins, dust mites, mold, and insect droppings.
Food Allergy

Food allergy affects 5% of children and 4% of adults in the United States and is defined as an adverse health event that is immune mediated and occurs reproducibly. Individuals with IgE mediated food allergy develop allergy antibodies (IgE) targeted against food allergens.
Allergic Rashes

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic, relapsing inflammatory skin disorder that usually starts at age < 5 years. It is characterized by itchy skin that becomes inflamed with scratching. For this reason, atopic dermatitis is known as the “itch that rashes.”
Other Conditions