Ten top tips on staying healthy this winter

NHS Bristol has issued ‘Ten Top Tips’ for staying healthy this winter in conjunction with self care week next week. Tony Fielding a local Bristol GP and Helen Lockett Bristol Community Health’s nursing lead have joined together to produce the ‘Ten Top Tips’.

Keep your hands clean:
Wash your hands regularly. Just washing your hands thoroughly can kill off flu or stomach viruses that have gotten on to your hands.

Eat well:
Make sure that your vitamin intake is better with plenty of vitamin C to help fight off colds and infections.  Why not visit your greengrocer and enjoy some good quality, local produce?

Get your jab:
If you are over 65 or have a long term health condition, ring your GP to have your flu vaccination.
 
Keep warm:
Dress appropriately for the weather to maintain a warm body temperature.
 
Get your eight hours:
Sleep plays a part in your general health and wellbeing, so try and get a good eight hours sleep per night.

Keep active:
You may not feel like going out for exercise when it is colder, but regular exercise helps your metabolism and immune system.

Keep it handy:
Make sure you have over the counter remedies such as paracetamol ready at home.

If you do get ill remember:
 
Catch it, Bin it, Kill it:
Sneeze into tissues, bin the tissues safely then wash your hands as soon as possible.

Stay in:
If you get ill with diarrhoea and sickness, stay at home until 48 hours after the last symptoms.

Swine flu:
If you think you have swine flu please do not go to your GP for treatment as you may pass the infection on to others. Ring the national pandemic flu service number first on: 0800 1 513 100, or call NHS Direct on: 0845 46 47 or your GP surgery who will operate an out of hours service.