6 Essential Tips for Supporting Your Health During COVID-19

We know that staying at home during the Coronavirus is not only challenging, but it’s also surfacing plenty of questions around how we can support our health better while we do our part to flatten the curve. So, to support your well-being, we’re helping by answering a few common questions from our patients. Here are six essential and practical ways you can support your health during COVID-19 recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and NWPC. 

1.  Practice social distancing 

We know quarantining hasn’t been easy for some. But social distancing has become a crucial component of battling the Coronavirus that reduces the spread of the virus and flattens the curve. So, how do I practice social distancing? Start by reviewing and following your state’s social distancing guidelines or stay at home orders. From there, the CDC recommends practical social distancing measures like:

• Staying six feet apart from one another
• Staying away from group gatherings and crowded spaces 
• Using medication delivery services
• Getting your groceries delivered
• Using a face mask or covering your face any time you interact with someone

Looking for ways to stay connected with your friends and family during COVID-19? Try using video conferencing software, social media or a smartphone to keep in contact safely while at home. 

2. Wash your hands often

It’s more important than ever to keep your hands clean by washing them frequently and properly. Doing so can prevent the spread of sickness and help protect our health by reducing any opportunities for germs to spread.

The CDC recommends that you wash your hands regularly with soap for a minimum of 20-seconds over warm water. If running water or soap is not available, you can use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% of alcohol. You should also wash your hands any time after leaving your house, if you’ve coughed, sneezed, or after blowing your nose. 

3. Wear a face covering 

The CDC recommends using a cloth face-covering anytime you interact with others or enter public spaces to reduce the spread of COVID-19. While N95 and surgical masks are chiefly accessible to medical teams fighting the Coronavirus at the frontlines, you can make a homemade cloth mask from a bandana, a t-shirt, or many other household cloth materials. Your face mask should fit you correctly, be secure, allow for unrestricted breathing, and have several layers of fabric that can act as a filter. You should also be able to clean or launder it after multiple uses.

4. Maintain a clean living space 

Minimizing germs by keeping your house clean is another critical component to maintaining your health during the Coronavirus. Here are a few things to keep in mind when cleaning your home: 

• Start with soap and water and then disinfect where you’re cleaning
• Disinfect and sanitize high traffic areas or frequently touched places like tables, countertops, TV remotes, or shared appliances 
• Always clean visibly dirty surfaces with soup or other household cleaners like an EPA-approved household disinfectant
• Maintain a clean airflow throughout your living space

5. Choose foods that boost your immune system

Whether you’re visiting a grocery store or ordering your groceries online, purchasing foods rich in zinc, magnesium, vitamin C, Omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidants support your health by boosting your immune system. Foods that help your immune system include: 

• Citrus fruits
• Salmon
• Cashews
• Red bell peppers 
• Ginger
• Chicken soup
• Shellfish 

6. Schedule a Telehealth appointment 

Unfortunately, we do not recommend visiting our clinic directly or immediately if you’re experiencing the following symptoms:

• Cold
• Fever
• Cough 
• New intestinal problems

We’re now offering video visits as a measure to reduce the spread of the Coronavirus while helping you maintain your health. If you’re an NWPC patient, call us to schedule a Telehealth virtual visit instead. Virtual visits allow you to see your practitioner using a smartphone, tablet or computer from the comfort of your home. If you need to schedule a Telehealth visit with NWPC, simply call the following number to connect with your doctor: 503.659.4988.