Dr Suraj Kukadia, who is better known as Dr Sooj, has shared his top tips for avoiding getting ill this winter
A doctor has shared his “ultimate” health hacks to avoid getting ill this winter. He warned that a lot of sickness seems to be “going around” at the moment.
As the weather gets colder we tend to see a spike in cases of colds, flu, Covid, and other illnesses. This is due to the fact that bugs can survive easier in cold, dry weather, and we tend to spend more time indoors with other people.
While it’s not possible to entirely prevent ever getting ill there are steps we can all take to minimise our risk. One expert took to social media platform TikTok to explain more.
Doctor Suraj Kukadia, who is better known as Dr Sooj, shared a video captioned “ultimate health hacks to stay healthy this winter”. He said: “Are you worried about catching this cough/cold/runny nose that seems to be going around everyone at the moment?
“If so, here are my top tips on home remedies in three categories that will help you stay healthy. And we’ll also talk about things that I really don’t recommend.”
Hygiene habits
Practising good hygiene habits is one way to lower your chances of getting ill. Dr Soof said: “Hygiene habits that actually matter. So avoid close contact with people showing symptoms like coughs, colds or runny noses and try to keep the windows or doors open when lots of people are gathered together.
“Make sure you wash your hands regularly and don’t touch your face. I realised during the pandemic that I really love touching my face and beard – don’t do that.
“When you sneeze or cough, always try to use a tissue, bin it, and then wash your hands after. If you don’t have a tissue cough or sneeze into your elbow, which can help prevent germs from spreading through your hands.
“Also make sure you avoid sharing items, so don’t share cups, towels, toys, food or plates with someone who has a cold.” He continued: “And here’s a pro tip about washing your hands if they’re getting dried out – carry a moisturiser with you, use a mild detergent, or wash your hands with an aqueous cream, which is what I do when I’m working in GP land.”
How to treat symptoms
He then explained what to do if you do start to feel unwell. Dr Sooj said: “If you do get sick, these are the things that do and don’t work.
“So stay well hydrated as this can soothe your throat, ease congestion and it can prevent dehydration, you can try mixing hot water with apple juice for extra comfort. Remember, honey and lemon are great for sore throat.
“And whilst lots of people do recommend vitamin C and zinc, studies do show mixed results. But it shouldn’t hurt to try them out, but don’t rely on them by themselves.
“Rinsing your nasal passageways and sinuses with saline can clear mucus from your nose or passageways. But do not use tap water straight from a tap.
“Either boil and cool it, use sterile saline or distilled water.” He also had a warning about certain treatments you can get from the pharmacy.
“Next move on to nasal sprays, which are a big one. I do not ever recommend nasal sprays that contain oxymetazoline, pseudoephedrine or phenylephrine and things like that.
“But nasal sprays that contain steroids can be helpful at reducing your symptoms when you’ve had sinusitis or rhinitis for longer than a couple of weeks.
“And my favourite one is gargling with warm salt water because this can help to relieve a sore throat and flush out bacteria. It’s particularly good for tonsil and throat infections.”
Medication
He added: “If you’re feeling rubbish, pain relief like paracetamol, ibuprofen and benzydamine can help reduce pain, especially if your throat is sore. A cool mist humidifier can help by adding moisture to the air and this can ease congestion.
“But make sure to change the water daily and clean the unit as directed to prevent mould growth.”