Just because it's the hottest time of the year doesn't mean you can't get a cold. Summer colds are rampant, especially when we hunker down for hours in offices full of air-conditioned air, which, unlike natural air, doesn't help dilute airborne viruses. It's no surprise then that a recent Self.com poll found that 50 percent of readers believe they caught their last cold at work.
But temperature isn't the only culprit. We can evict unwanted bugs and ward off illness in the process by following these tips.
Sweep your work spaces with a sanitizing wipe at least once a week. Research shows that women's desks have 2.5 times more bacteria and viruses than men's. The culprit: our additional "stuff," including handbags, snack stashes and makeup, is a happy home to germs. I'm guilty of housing all of the above and more on my desk—pictures of my kids, tons of magazines and my cell phone have a permanent spot next to my computer.
Crack open a window or get a HEPA filter air purifier, particularly if your office is carpeted. A study from the University of Birmingham in England found that wall-to-wall rugs may increase your chance of developing asthma by 40 percent. Carpets trap mold and are often made with materials that emit volatile compounds, which can irritate and inflame airways.
Stretch your legs at least every hour. Not only does taking a brief stroll—whether it's around the block or to the fax machine—give you a restorative break from busy work, but it may prevent deep vein thrombosis, a sometimes painful and life threatening blood clot in the leg. A recent study from the Medical Research Institute of New Zealand in Wellington found that a third of people who suffered from the condition regularly spent at least three hours a day sitting at work.
For more stay-well strategies, try our Feel Your Healthiest in Just One Month makeover at Self.com.
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