Fall weather brings with it cold and flu season. Americans get approximately one billion colds every year and 5 percent to 20 percent of Americans contract the flu each year. To help avoid these common ailments this fall, try staying healthy by using these tips.

Get the Flu Shot

Flu shots are the most efficient way to protect yourself against the flu. It is better to make sure that you get the shot as soon as possible to ensure that you are covered before being exposed to the illness.

Make Sure You’re Getting Enough Sleep

According to ABC News the likelihood that you will get a cold is greater if you get less than six hours of sleep each night.

Drink Water

Drinking water offers many benefits to your health, such as flushing out toxins, maintaining body temperature, and transporting nutrients. Reader’s Digest suggests putting a bottle of water next to your bed before you go to sleep each night so that it is the first thing you see when you wake up in the morning. Doing this will help you get a head start on your water intake before getting out of bed.

Clean Your Cell Phone and Keyboard

Items that you are in frequent contact with, such as your cell phone or keyboard, can collect all of the germs from the things your touch throughout the day. It is especially important to sterilize the items you use daily during cold and flu season.

Keep Hand Sanitizer and Disinfectant Wipes Close

Because you don’t know when you may find yourself interacting with possible cold or flu germs, it can be helpful to have hand sanitizer or disinfectant wipes nearby to sterilize something at any time.

Eat Foods with High Amounts of Vitamin C

To help strengthen your immune system, try eating foods with vitamin C in them. Some example of fruits and vegetables with high sources of vitamin C include oranges, bell peppers, broccoli, spinach, and tomatoes.

While these tips will help increase your chances of staying healthy this fall, there is always the possibility that you could get a cold or the flu. If you do find yourself ill with a cold or flu this season, visit your local urgent care. Urgent care offers convenient health care where you don’t need to make an appointment ahead of time. This is helpful for cold or flu treatment during the season when these ailments are most common and making a doctor’s appointment can be difficult. With urgent care, health care service is made easy in those times when you come down with a cold or the flu, despite your best efforts to stay healthy.