Prevention and Wellbeing
Keep Defenses Up. Maintaining your body’s defenses against infection will increase your chances of staying healthy, especially when you’re around people with colds or the flu. This is why Dr. W. often talks to his patients about the importance of getting a lot of rest, staying on a healthy diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables and quitting, or at least reducing, smoking.
Disinfection and Cleanliness. We can drastically reduce the life of viruses on surfaces such as doorknobs and countertops in places that are frequented by a lot of people by cleaning the surfaces with disinfectants. Dr. W. and his staff make this a regular habit. The use of disposable towels in bathrooms is another effective measure to reduce transmission of viruses.
Keep Active. When autumn comes, many of us reduce our physical activity and fall into more sedentary habits. Less physical activity means that our bodies eliminate fewer free radicals and toxins, making us more susceptible to infection. Dr. W. encourages his patients to keep physically active. This not only helps eliminate free radicals and toxins, it stimulates the cardiac, respiratory and immune systems.
Dress Properly. One of the most effective ways to keep colds at bay is dressing properly in order to avoid chills. Keeping the throat warm with a scarf or similar garment is especially important. So is wearing a hat, since much of our body’s heat loss in cool weather is from the head. It’s also a good idea when coming in from outside to have a hot drink in order to raise the temperature of the throat area.
Sufficient Sleep. It is an established fact that getting enough sleep is important to proper functioning of the brain. Dr. W. is aware that good sleeping habits also protect the heart, aid in weight loss and help prevent colds. He says it is essential to get the recommended seven to eight hours of sleep per day.
