Health Check with HealthWay

Coughing The Grinch isn’t the only thing out to ruin your holiday season. Make sure your
holidays are full of wonderful memories shared with family and friends– not the flu.
Sniffling This time of year can be exciting, but sickness can sneak up on you when you least
Sneezing expect it. Here are some simple tips and reminders for you to stay protected from those
Oh my... nasty germs that could ruin your favorite time of year.

1
Wash your hands. This might seem obvious, but when we are in a rush and in malls or grocery
stores touching various objects, we forget to wash our hands frequently. It is smart to wash your
hands after handling any commonly-touched surfaces using soap and water, or hand sanitizer.
Viruses that cause colds and seasonal flu are spread by coughing, sneezing, and can enter your body
through your nose or mouth, or your hands after touching a contaminated object.

2
Keep hands away from your face, especially your mouth and nose. As mentioned
above, viruses enter the body through our mouths and nose. Without thinking, you can risk
getting sick when you touch an infected surface and transfer the virus to your face. During the
holiday season, be sure to clean communal surfaces and items daily in order to prevent infected
particles from spreading.

3
Keep your distance. Whether you’re standing in a tightly-packed line at the mall or in a
crowded theater seeing your favorite Christmas concert, try to keep your distance from others
who are coughing and sneezing. Infected particles can travel up to 3 feet, according to a new
study by Live Science.

4
Get sleep. Although the holidays are filled with fun activites, visiting family, celebrating
at office parties, and finding the perfect holiday gift, it is important to get some sleep.
Having an adequate amount of sleep helps keep your immune system strong and ready
to protect you from germs. The average adult should have between 7 and 9 hours of
sleep per night, according to the National Sleep Foundation.

Get your flu shot. The flu vaccination protects you from the most common virus strains in

5
any given season, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Stop
by your nearest HealthWay pharmacy to get your flu shot. Enroll in our YourHealth YourWay
program to earn points for every dollar you spend and receive a free flu shot when you reach
200 points. Now is the best time to enroll because during the holidays, customers with the
loyalty program will have the opportunity to earn double points for each dollar they spend.
Learn more about the program and other helpful services offered by HealthWay by visiting
www.healthway.com