The last couple of winters has been rough. Anecdotally it seems that after being locked away from each other in the bid to avoid Covid, we were less exposed to other common viruses (respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), flu, common colds). Once we headed out into the world again, people were hit, sometimes hard, with illness after illness, especially through winter. If our immune system is strong it can help us to fight off infections. There is much we can do to look after our immune system to try and stay healthy through the winter ahead.
The Covid pandemic taught us about minimizing our exposure to viruses and maintaining these healthy habits through winter is important – using face masks, hand hygiene, and coughing and sneezing into your elbow. Preventing yourself from getting sick is still a good strategy.
But going back to basics to improve our overall health is also essential in terms of preventing illness. Our mind and body, (including our immune system) are all interconnected so we need to pay attention to the needs of both. We tend to look for miracle cures or focus on just one area of the body when we get ill. Consistent healthy habits that benefit both our physical and mental health are what are effective and protective long-term.