Winter is normally a time where people tend to get ill, especially if you work in a busy office where it is likely to spread. In today’s blog the Cheapest Life Insurance looks at some of the different types of illnesses you could catch during the cold winter months and how you can try your best to avoid them.
- The common cold – The common cold can cause sneezing, having a sore throat, coughing and struggling to breathe through your nose. When you have the common cold you will find that symptoms will usually last around a week. You can prevent having a cold by regularly washing your hands and if possible by trying to avoiding touching your face. Colds can be caused from a number of different viruses which is why some people find that they suffer with colds quite often.
- The Flu – The flu will make you have a headache, aches, pains and you will normally also have a fever as well as feeling tired and lethargic. The flu can also cause you to have common cold symptoms such as a blocked nose. Feeling sick could also be a symptom, although this is more common with children, not adults. You can prevent the Flu by having an annual Flu Jab which will also cover you for other types of flu such as swine flu. Other prevention techniques include washing your hands and trying to avoid anyone who has the flu.
- Bronchitis – Bronchitis is an infection of the main airways of your lungs, this causes them to be irritated and inflamed. Bronchitis is caused by a viral infection and normally do not last long. The main symptom that you will find is having a cough and a sore throat as a result. Other symptoms include wheezing and a blocked nose. You are not always able to prevent bronchitis but you can lower your risk if you try not smoking. You should also wash your hands regularly as with all other illnesses and the flu jab as well as the pneumonia vaccine may also lower your risk.
- Sore Throat – Having a sore throat is often a symptom of either a bacterial or viral infection just like the common cold. Sore throats are very common and other symptoms that are usually tied to having a sore throat are runny noses, headaches, coughs, inflammation of the throat and aches and pains. Sore throats normally last around 4-7 days and can be prevented by drinking lots of water, washing your hands regularly and avoiding smoking.
- Norovirus – Norovirus is an infection that can cause severe vomiting and diarrhoea. The Norovirus normally lasts for a few days and is very unpleasant. Although catching Norovirus cannot always be dodged, having good hygiene can help towards preventing the virus spreading. As always you should wash your hands frequently but you should also change bedding and clothing on a hot wash, avoid consuming raw and unwashed foods and be careful when eating oysters as they can carry the virus.
- Pneumonia – this is the inflammation of the tissue in one or both of your lungs and is usually caused by an infection. Common symptoms can include coughing, fevers and even difficulty breathing. To prevent pneumonia good hygiene and a healthy lifestyle is recommended as well as trying to avoid smoking and having the pneumonia and flu jab.