As the back-to-school season approaches, transitioning from summer to the classroom can often bring a surge in illnesses. With classrooms buzzing with activity and the weather changing, taking proactive steps to stay healthy is crucial. To help you and your family navigate this busy time without falling prey to common colds and infections, here are some essential tips for avoiding illness and maintaining good health. If you or someone in your household are experiencing illness symptoms, you can count on AFC Urgent Care North Bergen for same-day illness symptom diagnosis and treatment. Simply walk into the clinic, or schedule your visit in advance online.
How to Avoid Getting Sick During Back-to-School Season
Headed back into the classroom this fall? Spending time indoors near others increases your chances of contracting an illness. Viral infections are particularly common during the fall season due to the way viruses spread. You can contract a viral infection by breathing in the same air, touching the same surface or touching someone who is sick. Because of this, it is important to take steps to keep your immune system strong and avoid illness. Here are some tips for reducing your chances of contracting an illness this fall.
Keep Stress at a Minimum
High-stress levels can weaken the immune system, making the body more susceptible to infections. When individuals, especially children, are stressed, their bodies produce stress hormones like cortisol. This can impair the immune response and disrupt sleep, which is crucial for maintaining health. Managing stress through regular physical activity, adequate sleep, and mindfulness practices will reduce the likelihood of falling ill during this busy time of year.
Offer Healthy Food Choices
During the back-to-school season, making healthy food choices is essential to avoid illness. Proper nutrition strengthens the immune system, helping students fight off common germs and viruses in school. Here’s how to make smart food choices:
- Balanced diet: Ensure meals include a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. These foods provide essential vitamins and minerals that support immune function.
- Avoid processed foods: Processed foods, often high in sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats, can weaken the immune system. Opt for whole, natural foods instead.
- Hydration: Drinking plenty of water helps maintain the body's functions, including flushing out toxins and keeping the immune system strong.
- Healthy snacks: Choose nutrient-rich snacks like fruits, nuts, yogurt, or whole-grain crackers over sugary snacks, which can cause energy spikes and crashes.
Stay Up to Date with Vaccinations
Schools are environments where children are in close contact with one another, increasing the risk of disease transmission. Ensuring your child is current on their vaccinations helps protect them from illnesses like the flu, measles and whooping cough, which can spread rapidly in school settings. Regular check-ups and keeping immunizations on schedule safeguard your child’s health and prevent community outbreaks.
Visit AFC Urgent Care North Bergen for Same-Day Illness Treatment in North Bergen, NJ
Sometimes getting sick during back to school time is unavoidable. However, intervening early when you notice illness symptoms can help prevent your child’s symptoms from worsening and can prevent the illness from spreading throughout the household.
If your child is experiencing illness symptoms, AFC Urgent Care North Bergen can help. Our walk-in clinic provides same-day illness symptom diagnosis for patients of all ages. We never require that you schedule an appointment in advance. Simply walk into the clinic for same-day care with short wait times.
