{"id":9639,"date":"2015-10-02T16:09:48","date_gmt":"2015-10-02T20:09:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.tcnjmagazine.com\/?p=9639"},"modified":"2015-10-02T16:09:48","modified_gmt":"2015-10-02T20:09:48","slug":"winter-wellness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tcnjmagazine.com\/?p=9639","title":{"rendered":"Winter Wellness"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Kerek.Winter\"<\/p>\n

The indoor retreat that accompanies winter can yield sedentary lifestyles and germy close quarters, meaning your next sick day might be just around the corner. But this advice from Professor of Nursing Claire Lindberg and Adult Nurse Practitioner Barbara Clark can help you avoid\u2014or quickly bounce back from\u2014the season\u2019s most common ailments.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Common cold<\/span><\/strong> \u00a0Cluster of symptoms, from coughing and sneezing to congestion and sore throat<\/p>\n

Avoid it<\/span> <\/strong>\u00a0Regular hand washing is key, since it\u2019s hard to avoid touching doorknobs and other contaminated surfaces. And keep immunity in tip-top shape by getting plenty of sleep and eating a well-balanced diet, says Clark.<\/p>\n

Bounce back<\/span><\/strong> \u00a0Antibiotics won\u2019t cure a cold, so soothe symptoms with over-the-counter options. Saline spray can do wonders for congestion, and a steamy shower can thin mucus. For a cough, Lindberg recommends adding honey and lemon to a cup of hot water.<\/p>\n

Flu<\/span><\/strong> \u00a0Virus marked by fever, fatigue, chills, and body aches<\/p>\n

Avoid it<\/span><\/strong> \u00a0Get your flu shot early in the season, says Clark: \u201cContrary to the myth, the vaccine cannot cause the flu.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bounce back<\/span><\/strong> \u00a0Recovery can take a week or more, so plan to rest. \u201cDrink lots of fluids and eat light foods, like chicken soup,\u201d says Lindberg. That can help decrease mucus and open airways.<\/p>\n

Norovirus<\/span><\/strong> \u00a0Upset stomach lasting up to three days<\/p>\n

Avoid it<\/span> <\/strong>\u00a0Norovirus can live on surfaces for weeks, so disinfecting is a must. Don\u2019t share towels if someone\u2019s sick, and keep kids from sharing drinks and forks, says Lindberg.<\/p>\n

Bounce back<\/span><\/strong> \u00a0Load up on liquids to avoid dehydration, says Clark, even if you have to start with ice chips. \u201cPedialyte or broths can help replace fluid and electrolytes, but avoid anything sugary, as it can worsen stomach upset,\u201d says Lindberg.<\/p>\n

Seasonal Affective Disorder<\/span><\/strong> \u00a0Feelings of depression that arise when the days get shorter<\/p>\n

Avoid it<\/span><\/strong> \u00a0\u201cOpen blinds, get as much outdoor light as possible, and exercise,\u201d says Clark.<\/p>\n

Bounce back<\/span> <\/strong>\u00a0A tabletop light box can simulate daylight, but consult a doctor if symptoms seem severe.<\/p>\n

Aches and Pains<\/span><\/strong> \u00a0Joint discomfort and back pain<\/p>\n

Avoid it<\/span><\/strong> \u00a0\u201cCold weather doesn\u2019t cause pain,\u201d says Lindberg. Not enough outdoor exercise does. \u201cAt the root of cold-weather aches and pains is a need for activity.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bounce back<\/span><\/strong> \u00a0Take a walk. Stretch at your desk. Follow an online yoga tutorial. \u201cJust get moving,\u201d says Lindberg.<\/p>\n

Illustration by Allison Kerek\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Campus health experts explain how you can survive the season that keeps on giving.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":294,"featured_media":9641,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[75,74,9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9639","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fall-2015","category-the-need-to-know-basis","category-on-campus"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tcnjmagazine.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9639","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tcnjmagazine.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tcnjmagazine.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tcnjmagazine.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/294"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tcnjmagazine.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=9639"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.tcnjmagazine.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9639\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tcnjmagazine.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/9641"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tcnjmagazine.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=9639"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tcnjmagazine.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=9639"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tcnjmagazine.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=9639"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}