Simple Steps to Prevent Respiratory Illness This Season

As the colder weather months begin, respiratory viruses like the common cold, the flu, RSV and COVID-19, become more prevalent. Though these illnesses can be mild, there are many factors, including having chronic lung disease that can increase your risk for severe illness. To protect yourself and your loved ones this season, follow these simple steps.

🩹 Stay updated on recommended immunizations

Immunizations are the best tool for preventing severe illness, hospitalization and death. Talk to your doctor about your personal recommendations including:

• Your annual flu shot for everyone 6 months of age or older.
• A COVID-19 vaccination for everyone 6 months of age or older.
• A RSV immunization for:
  • All adults 75+.
  • Adults 50-74 are at increased risk for severe RSV illness.
  • Pregnant women to help protect their baby from severe RSV illness. This vaccine is given during weeks 32-36 of pregnancy in September through January.
  • Babies under 8 months of age (if their mother was not vaccinated during pregnancy) and certain babies/toddlers at increased risk between 8 and 19 months as an RSV preventive antibody. This is given from October through March.

🧪 Get tested for viruses

As soon as your symptoms begin, get tested using an at-home test or at a testing site, health center or your healthcare provider’s office. Testing helps to confirm a diagnosis and guides your next steps. Next steps may include calling your healthcare provider to help guide you, getting proper treatment to reduce the risk of severe illness, planning to monitor your recovery, finding supportive care at home, and taking steps to protect others around you. You can purchase at-home tests online, in pharmacies, at retail stores and at some local health departments.  

⚕ Receive correct treatment for your illness

Treatment for respiratory viruses vary and so correct diagnosis is important to determine if medication is needed. For flu and COVID-19, antiviral medication is available to help lower the risk of severe illness, complications and hospitalization. They should be taken as soon as possible, with best results when taken within two days of symptom onset for flu and within five to seven days of symptom onset for COVID-19. Treatment is especially important for individuals at increased risk of severe illness, like those with chronic lung disease.

🧼 Wash your hands well and often

Good hygiene is an important and easy step to take to help prevent infection and the spread of respiratory viruses. Respiratory viruses can live on surfaces for several days and enter the body when you touch your eyes, nose or mouth, after touching something with the germs on it. For hand washing to be effective, wash with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap isn’t available, use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

💨 Improve indoor air quality

Respiratory viruses often spread in the air you breathe, particularly when you are in crowded indoor spaces. Improving indoor air quality can lower harmful viruses in the air and reduce the chance of contracting a respiratory illness. 

Tips that reduce the viruses in the air we breathe include:

1. Opening windows and doors, when possible, to improve ventilation.  Even 10 minutes one or twice a day will make a large difference in the pollutants in your indoor air.
2. If your home has a central heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system (HVAC, a system with air ducts that go throughout the home) that has a filter, set the fan to the "on" position instead of "auto" when you have visitors and use high-quality filters (look for pleated filters with a MERV- Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) - rating of 13). Change your filter every three months or according to the manufacturer's instructions.
3. Using exhaust fans also improves ventilation and brings clean, fresh air indoors
4. Using portable HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) air cleaners in the crowded space to capture viruses and other pollutants
5. Moving events outside, if possible

🤧 Adopt healthy habits to improve your immune system

Your immune system does its best to protect your body from respiratory viruses. You can help support your immune system by maintaining a healthy lifestyle. This includes:

• Eat a balanced diet that is rich in fruits, vegetables, lean protein and whole grains.
• Stay physically active.
• Get enough sleep. Adults generally need at least 7 hours of sleep, while kids and teens require more.
• Avoid all tobacco products and alcohol.
• Maintain a healthy weight.

Every fall and winter, we see an increase in respiratory viruses, but following our guidance can help you reduce your risk of serious illness and help your community stay healthier.

Learn more at Lung.org/viruses and Lung.org/vaccines.