Immune System... Keep it healthy!

[fla4fun]

The main thing is to make sure you are in top condition before you go. The worst thing you can do is be stressed out and not getting enough sleep. I try to get an extra hour or two of sleep each night the week before a WDW trip. Keeping your hands away from your face in general is a good practice to prevent illness. If you are run down before you go, you run a good chance of picking up an illness before you get there, and having it come to full fruition when you should be out having fun.

The only thing I do at WDW to prevent illness is to take the individually packaged Wet Ones with me. I use one right before eating (I tried the washing hands before meals bit, but it's amazing all the things you have to touch from the time you leave the restroom to the time you are seated with your food and ready to eat) and I haven't been sick at Disney in years. I've been at WDW during Swine Flu, the rampant Norovirus outbreak in December 2008, and I always travel during seasonal flu season on multiple trips. Since washing right before eating, I haven't been sick once. I don't go around sanitizing my hotel room or anything like that.

Other than that, I don't concern myself about what I touch during the day, knowing that I'll be cleaning up before I dine.

 

[thumper*]

Wash your hands several times a day.. keep your fingers out of your mouth.

Also keep fingers away from your eyes.


I also try to avoid any door handels ( & stair rails) that I possibly can especially inside of bathroom doors. How many times have you seen someone walk out of the bathroom w/o washing and now your going to grab the same door handle they just touched....eww. I usually use the towel I just dried my hands with to turn off the water faucet and then the door to exit.

 

[Lou Holtz]

A lot of people don't realize that you mostly catch things through the eyes and nose, not the mouth. Rubbing your eyes is much more likely to infect you than licking your hands.

 

[larryz]

I recommend the liberal internal application of alcohol, to kill the bugs that make it into your esophagus. The Grand Marnier slushie sold in France is particularly effective (and TASTY!). Washed down with the Grey Goose slushie, I'd almost guarantee you won't get a cold.

But don't drive or operate heavy machinery for at least 3 hours after application.

 

[Stinkerbell317]

I find that plenty of exercise, fruits and veggies and cutting down on sugar really boosts my immune system. After that plenty of hand washing and hand sanitzer probably doesn't hure either.

 

[nytimez]

Hi SDSorority, we use an alcohol-free hand sanitizer (has lotion in it, too) and some other products. I'll send you a PM with more info.

Rob

Actually, non-alcohol sanitizers are even worse. They use antimicrobial drugs such as triclosan and benzalkonium chloride. In addition to being not so great for your own body, these things are also helping to breed drug-resistant bacteria.

Best bet: soap and warm water.

Oh, and not licking bus poles.

 

[AndyFL]

Oh, and not licking bus poles.

Oh GREAT! You just took away one of our favorite games we play with the kids to help shorten the bus trips. Anybody know another game since "Whats this taste like" is now verbotten?

 

[k5thbeatle]

Hi everyone! What are some tips/tricks/advice to keep your immune system in tip top shape before your trip and while you're at the parks/hotel/on the buses/boats??? I try to get loads of sleep, eat well, and take things like vitamin c and zinc... any other ideas??

Before your trip...I'm not so sure? But while you're there be sure to drink "around the world" in Epcot at least a few times. That seems to pretty much kill any of the bugs and virus's I encounter when there and it works for me!

 

[cuches]

Without a doubt the best thing you can do for your immune system is taking Vitamin D3!!!! Ever wonder why the flu seems to go away during the summer months? One of the reasons is you get your full daily dose of Vitamin D from the sun...just 10 minutes a day in the sun NO SUNSCREEN is all you need however in the winter months the sun is not strong enough (not at the right angle to the earth) for you to get Vitamin D and that is why you are more suseptable to getting sick (colds, flu's etc...) That is when we supplement. I take 2000units per day. I also take Vitamin C 1000mg and Zinc 50mg per day as well. But the most important one is the Vitamin D. Google it....you will find out how important that Vitamin is.

 

[cuches]

I recommend the liberal internal application of alcohol, to kill the bugs that make it into your esophagus. The Grand Marnier slushie sold in France is particularly effective (and TASTY!). Washed down with the Grey Goose slushie, I'd almost guarantee you won't get a cold.

But don't drive or operate heavy machinery for at least 3 hours after application.

I like that advice!!!!