‘Tis the season to pass around the turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing and often the seasonal cold or flu virus, too. Exchanging germs over the holidays can take a toll on one's immune system. So, how can we all stay healthy to enjoy the festivities? We asked Dr. Harpreet Tsui from Coronado Health Direct Primary Care for some tips on staying healthy during this hectic holiday season.
- Get enough sleep. Running around doing holiday shopping and holiday cooking can lead to fatigue. Your immune system can go down, leaving you susceptible to a virus.
- Focus on antioxidants from fruits and vegetables to help boost your immune system. Blueberries, green tea, salmon (zinc) and citrus (vitamin C) all contain healthy antioxidants.
- Exercise. Keeping your body moving!
- Manage stress. We all know that stress levels can be high during this time. Taking time to destress, through a simple meditation, a walk alone, and not overscheduling yourself can keep the stress low.
- Wash your hands. During this time, we are usually around family and keeping your hands clean is the best way to stop the spread of germs.
To further enhance our understanding of winter wellness, we asked Dr. Tsui to debunk some common medical myths.
Q: If you feel a tickle in your throat, is it helpful to gargle with warm salt water and hydrogen peroxide?
A: While I don't recommend gargling with hydrogen peroxide, warm saltwater gargles have been shown to be beneficial. Hydrogen peroxide gargles aren't always safe as people tend to swallow it and it can be very irritating.
Q: Is it true that if you go out in the cold weather with wet hair, you can get sick?
A: This is an age-old myth. No, if you go out with wet hair you will not get sick.
Q: Do nasal sprays or swabs such as Zicam shorten the length of a cold?
A: The studies on Zicam are small and limited. Honestly, there's not a lot of evidence that shows these products’ work. Also, Zicam isn't FDA approved. I feel like a diet high in vitamin C, zinc, and antioxidants do more than products such as Zicam.
Q: Can you work out when you have a cough or cold?
A: Yes, you can. If you feel fatigue, have a cough with associated shortness of breath, muscle aches, dizziness, or headaches I would suggest taking a break from working out. But if you feel like you have the energy to get through a short work out, then go ahead.
Q: If a person suspects an illness, like the flu or a cold, what should they do?
A: There are antiviral medications out there for viruses such as influenza and COVID-19. If you suspect an illness, call your doctor so we can get you started. Especially if you have an associated high fever, muscle aches, headaches, fatigue. During the winter months, viruses spread in close contact so if you have been around someone with similar symptoms increase your intake of fluids, take over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol or Ibuprofen or fevers, headaches, or body aches, stay away from others who are more susceptible from getting sick such as young children or elderly family members or those who are immunocompromised.
Q: What about COVID-19 risks during flu and cold season?
A: While COVID-19 has become endemic it is still a risk to many people. If you suspect you have a cold, I suggest taking a COVID-19 test and calling your doctor if you're positive. You may be a candidate for Paxlovid. While guidelines for COVID-19 have changed over the years you can't go wrong with masking around friends and family to decrease the spread.
Q: What do you recommend when your patients are ill?
A: I counsel patients to avoid alcohol and caffeine when they're sick. A diet rich in plants, like the Mediterranean Diet, can keep you healthy as you go through the holiday season. I recommend a cool mist humidifier in the winter to keep the moisture up. The most important thing with humidifiers is to use filtered or distilled water and clean it weekly as recommended on the instructions. This way you lower the risk of standing water growing bacteria and spreading it out.
Q: What is your general philosophy as a physician and when it comes to your practice?
A: I maintain an open, safe environment where patients can take the time they need to address their goals and feel respected and secure in their doctor-patient relationship. I look forward to working alongside my patients in their continued healthcare goals. Most of all, your wellness journey shouldn’t be a stressful adventure. We’d like to think of the direct care model as a leisurely stroll.
Dr. Harpreet Tsui, DO, FACOI completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Central Florida in Molecular and Microbiology. She then went to Touro University California for medical school and completed her internal medicine residency in Las Vegas at Valley Hospital. Dr. Tsui has been practicing in the Henderson area since 2011 and now calls the city home. She is a fellow of the American College of Osteopathic Internists; in 2020 she became board certified by the American Board of Obesity Medicine. Disease prevention and management are her main passions in healthcare. Dr. Tsui meets her patients where they’re at and actively works toward health goals, one step at a time. She is committed to establishing a great rapport, providing empathy alongside clinical insight, and bringing her patients together to build better physical, mental, and emotional health. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and exploring new finds in the city.
Most of all, your wellness journey shouldn’t be a stressful adventure. We’d like to think of the direct care model as a leisurely stroll.