This Blog Is For Women

I work with children.  And every fall and winter we have a couple of times where it seems like everyone is getting sick.  Well, everyone except me!

People ask me my secret.  It’s very simple.

1. Wash my hands.

2. Saline Sinus Rinse.

3. Saline gargle.

4. Vitamin C.

5. Plenty of fluids.

6. Adequate sleep.

7. Honey.

8. Hot beverages

That’s pretty much it!  I think the most significant steps are #2 and 3.   Before I started doing these 2 things I would occasionally get sick.   But 4 winters ago I started a regimen of rinse and gargle, and I have avoided illness since then.  It also helps tremendously with seasonal allergies and hayfever.  I got the idea of sinus rinse from Dr. Vinay Goyal, who gave a lecture on avoiding H1N1 influenza.

Sinus rinsing sounds awful.  Trust me, I hate getting water up my nose when swimming.  And the first time I did it I was prepared for that same feeling.  But, the pH of the solution combined with tepid water temperature makes this exercise quite neutral.  Yes, you can feel the water but it’s not unpleasant.  The secret is to keep your mouth open and breathe the whole time, while keeping your head inverted enough for the water to stay in your sinuses.  Really simple.  Very effective.  I highly recommend it!

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I wish I had something inspirational, witty or bold to say today.  Sadly, I’m off to bed with a touch of a headache from lack of sleep.  For the past 4 days  and nights I’ve been nursing 2 sick children who have fever and coughs.  No fun!

Things that help a cough:

1.  Hydration:  This can come in the form of drinking fluids or a vaporizer.  Drinking fluids works best if done slowly over the course of the day, sipping a glass an hour to keep the throat well lubricated.

2.  Honey:  Honey has a natural healing property that causes phlegm to liquify making it easier to cough out.  So, we’ve been going through lots of it this week. We’ve been serving it straight-up on a teaspoon, on English Muffins and in hot lemon and honey.

3.  Rest:  Enough said.

4.  Vicks Vapo-rub:  It worked when I was a kid and it still works today.

5.  Television:  Well, it’s a good distraction if nothing else.

6.  Hugs:  A hug makes everything better.

(I can never seem to stop at 5 can I.  LOL)

Here’s to good health!  And soon!!!