The COVID-19 pandemic has affected every part of society. In addition to prohibiting group gatherings and large events, the crisis has impacted the way you access routine and urgent health care services.
Because emergency care services remain a priority, you may be facing limited choices for treating medical conditions and concerns that are not life-threatening.
Feeling anxious, stressed, afraid, and overwhelmed are all normal reactions to the global health crisis. You may also experience a number of physical symptoms, such as headaches, nausea, vomiting, tension in your muscles, sleeplessness, and high blood pressure.
At Affordable & Restorative Health in Nashville, Tennessee, our team, led by Dr. Winston Griner, offers comprehensive primary care services to men and women with a range of conditions, such as diabetes, the flu, colds, hypertension, and pain.
Here are a few self-care strategies to help you stay healthy and minimize your chance of contracting COVID-19.
Wash your hands frequently
While there is a lot of back-and-forth on mask-wearing and other strategies to mitigate the spread of the illness, there’s no question about the benefits of handwashing to prevent disease.
Washing your hands often helps stop germs from spreading to objects, surfaces, and food. You can also introduce a virus into your body by using unclean hands to touch your nose, mouth, or eyes.
Get plenty of sleep
High-quality sleep fortifies your immune system, which helps defend your body against viruses like COVID-19. Adults should aim for 7-9 hours per night.
For the best sleep, consider removing electronic devices from the room, using blackout curtains, and refraining from consuming caffeine several hours before you go to bed.
Protect your mental health
Because of social-distancing requirements, many people are suffering from depression, loneliness, anxiety, and fear.
We recommend that you take frequent breaks from the 24/7 news cycle, get some fresh air and exercise every day, eat healthy, and avoid using drugs or alcohol to help you overcome your feelings.
If you’re already depending on substances, please reach out to our team for help. We are addiction specialists and can help you break the dangerous cycle.
To learn more about how we can help you stay healthy during cold and flu season, as well as deal with COVID-19, call our office at 615-903-2401.
