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As winter approaches with COVID cases surging, taking steps to keep yourself and your loved ones both physically and mentally healthy is of paramount importance.  

Get a Flu Shot 

First and foremost, those who are able should receive the annual influenza vaccine as soon as possible. The CDC defines flu season as the period from December to January, meaning the peak for influenza cases this year is rapidly approaching.  

While the flu shot will not specifically protect you from COVID, the vaccination confers a host of benefits, including reduced likelihood of hospitalization or exacerbation of chronic diseases such as COPD, diabetes, or heart disease. Reducing hospitalizations can relieve some of the burden on our already-strained hospital system as we contend with the rising number of patients with COVID.  

For context, influenza caused 38,000,000 symptomatic illnesses, 18,000,000 medical visits, 400,000 hospitalizations, and 22,000 deaths in the United States during the 2019 to 2020 flu season. If everyone got a flu shot prior to this season, we could see a dramatic reduction in these numbers.  

Winter Holiday Planning 

Another consideration is planning for the winter holidays and the gatherings that tend to accompany them. As the cold weather drives more people inside and impairs the ability to gather outdoors, we expect to see the number of COVID cases increase markedly.  

This is obviously a touchy subject; this has been a stressful year, and most of us want nothing more than to spend time with our friends and families. A strong social support network lowers stress, promotes good mental health, and can even lower your blood pressure.  

While these benefits from social support systems are certainly desirable, steps should be taken to ensure everyone can enjoy the festivities without increasing the risk of getting sick. The current statewide restrictions limit indoor gatherings to a maximum of 10 people and no more than two households, so it is important to plan accordingly.  

To maximize safety, anyone you invite should be practicing safe habits, including wearing a face covering like a mask, maintaining physical distancing at 6 to 10 feet at all times, and washing their hands regularly, prior to coming to the event to reduce the likelihood of catching COVID from community spread.  

If there is any doubt as to whether someone may have acquired coronavirus before coming to your house, there are many sites where free testing is available, including the City of Detroit testing site at the Joseph Walker Williams Community Center on Rosa Parks Boulevard and most commercial drug stores like Walgreens and CVS.  

If you test positive or test negative and have symptoms highly suspicious for COVID, including fever, dry cough, and loss of taste or smell, the safest course of action is to stay home and self-quarantine for 10 days. The worst case scenario would be to spread coronavirus from yourself to an older, sicker, or more vulnerable member of your family who could die from COVID or suffer significant physical impairments from the virus.  

At the gathering, try to maintain physical distance as much as possible, wash your hands frequently, avoid sharing utensils, and consider shortening the duration of the event, as longer time spent indoors is associated with a greater risk of spreading the virus. 

How a Healthy Lifestyle Can Help 

Finally, try to maintain your regular healthy lifestyle habits, even during the winter months. If you typically exercise outside, dress in layers and ensure you are well-hydrated. Do your best to get eight hours of sleep each night, and practice healthy eating as much as possible.  

There is always the temptation to overeat during the holidays, so conscientious eating and portion control can help reduce excess calorie intake and still allow you to enjoy your favorite holiday dishes.  

The changes in weather and lack of sunlight can also trigger or worsen depression in some individuals, so it is important to communicate with your primary care physician about any depressive symptoms you may be experiencing. In general, it is good practice to keep in touch with your primary care physician, as they are best equipped to manage your healthcare concerns.  

For those without a PCP, my practice, Plum Health DPC, is currently accepting new patients. We offer subscription-based care and affordable testing and medications, including flu shots and COVID antibody testing. Anyone interested in signing up or seeking additional information can visit our website at https://www.plumhealthdpc.com. 

Written by Let’s Detroit Ambassador Dr. Paul Thomas of Plum Health DPC. Connect with Dr. Paul here.