ITV This Morning health expert Dr Amir Khan issues 'super important' viral infection warning
ITV's health expert Dr Amir Khan has issued advice to prevent the spread of infections as the colder months approach. With common colds and flu rampant the TV doctor has taken to Instagram to share the five best ways to reduce chances of getting a cold.
Dr Khan warned infections are going around, with everyone seemingly getting a cold bug. One of the key points Dr Khan makes is the importance of ventilating indoor spaces as recent research shows cold viruses are spread through aerosol as well as droplets meaning ventilation is key.
In a stern message Dr Khan said ''I am not kidding when I say we are seeing high levels of viral infections, colds and flus going around." He added there isn't much doctors can do about the viral infections as antibiotics don't work, meaning your immune system will have to fight them off.
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Dr Khan stressed the importance of handwashing to reduce the risk of catching a cold bug. Washing your hands frequently, especially before eating or preparing food and after using the bathroom. Many things that should usually go without saying when it comes to washing hands including coming into contact with someone who has a cold or after wiping your nose are not being done by everybody. He urged people to remember ''the main way cold viruses are spread are through droplets that can get onto your hands''
Avoiding touching your face a lot is another easy way you can prevent catching a cold, according to Dr Khan. Cold viruses can spread from our hands into our eyes, nose or mouth. Cold viruses can also live on places people may not expect including door knobs and other common surfaces from workplace desks to kitchen countertops so disinfecting regularly would be beneficial.
In a situation you are unable to use soap and water a great alternative is alcohol-based sanitiser. Although Dr Khan admits this is not as good as soap and water it is better than nothing and can still prevent the spread of infections.
A ''super important'' tip provided by Dr Khan is keeping your immune system ''tip top''. Getting enough sleep, eating a healthy balance diet with lots of plants in and exercising so your body is ready to fight off germs. The health expert said ''I cannot stress the importance of these three things enough.''
For those who have colds it is advised they stay at home when possible and cough and sneeze into tissues. Throwing them away and then washing your hands immediately
In line with the NHS advisories here are the key symptoms of flu:
a sudden high temperature
an aching body
feeling tired or exhausted
a dry cough
a sore throat
a headache
difficulty sleeping
loss of appetite
diarrhoea or tummy pain
feeling sick and being sick