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The Beast and Me is now playing only on Netflix. can I protect myself from winter viruses?
Thanks for asking!
During winter, we tend to huddle indoors in an understandable bid to stay warm.
But while this makes for a cozy setting, it also becomes a major breeding ground for virus transmission.
The dry air in offices, public transport and our homes can strip the moisture from our nasal passages, leaving us more susceptible to infections.
After all, the nose, mouth and eyes serve as the primary gateways for viruses to enter the body.
Unlike bacteria, which can be effectively combated with antibiotics, viruses thrive due to how they siphon energy from host cells.
When our initial immune response falls short.
Viruses infiltrate our bodies while our white blood cells kick into gear, producing antibodies.
Do antibodies always do the trick?
If you've encountered a specific virus before, the infection gets thwarted more swiftly.
But if not, the virus gets dispatched to the lymph nodes, spleen or bone marrow for analysis, enabling your body to produce the right antibodies.
Bear in mind that that process takes a few days, so by the time the initial symptoms surface, the disease has already taken hold.
The flu is, of course, a prominent winter virus, and it spreads through respiratory droplets released by sneezing or via human contact and contaminated surfaces.
Its contagious period lasts about three days, and the illness typically lingers for three to seven days, accompanied by a spike in fever, muscle aches and profound fatigue.
What about stomach bugs?
Indeed, gastroenteritis is another example of a virus that's particularly active in winter.
It's transmitted through human contact, contaminated food and even through vomit.
The incubation period spans up to 72 hours and the illness can persist for up to five days.
Be cautious, because even after recovery, you remain contagious for a few days and the virus can linger on inert surfaces like doorknobs for up to a month.
You're probably familiar with the symptoms which include diarrhea, vomiting and sometimes a fever.
Colds and bronchiolitis are also part of the winter virus lineup, not to mention COVID-19.
It's worth knowing that, if symptoms arise, wearing a mask at least 50 of the time when you're at home could slash the risk of household transmission by a whopping 80.
Besides mask wearing, what else can I do to fend off infection?
Irrespective of which virus you're talking about.
Properly ventilating any enclosed spaces on a daily basis is crucial.
You should also regularly rinse your nose with saline solution or nasal spray at the first sign of symptoms or if someone else around you is unwell.
This helps moisten the mucous membranes and nasal cavity, fortifying their barrier function and eliminating surface level viruses.
You may want to also introduce some humidity into the air by placing bowls of water on top of your heaters, although don't do that with any electric heaters, for obvious reasons.
And don't forget to stay hydrated, whether that's by drinking plenty of water or herbal tea.
Finally, good hand hygiene, especially after blowing your nose, and disinfecting commonly touched surfaces are also highly effective ways of creating an antivirus barricade.
There you have it.
Now you know how you can protect yourself from winter viruses.
In under three minutes, we answer your questions and help you understand the true meaning behind the trends, concepts and acronyms that are making headlines.
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