Whether you are young and healthy or old and sick, preventing the spread of a virus is crucial amidst this pandemic. So while there may not be a direct cure for the Coronavirus, there are ways you can strengthen your immune system to better fight the disease if contracting it, and simply prevent it from spreading to those who are unable to fight the disease. 

Coronavirus is known for targeting the lungs which is a big reason smoking is not doing you any favors. Smoking increases your risk of infections in the lungs. Having good hygiene is also extremely important. Simple tasks like washing your hands and using hand sanitizer are essential for killing and washing away those harmful germs. Next is sleep, everyone knows sleep is needed to maintain a healthy life. In a study by Dr. Bret Scher in an article called “Boosting your immune system to fight the coronavirus: what you need to know” they found that “those who slept less than seven hours were three times more likely to develop symptoms than those who slept more than eight hours.” Another equally important topic is exercise. Physical activity helps to flush bacteria out of the lungs, reduce your body’s stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol, and stimulate the production of endorphins which elevate your mood (make you happy) and are your body’s natural painkillers. 

Ultimately, all these things are just part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle, the bonus is protecting yourself from diseases like the Coronavirus, as well as common colds, and the flu. So it may just be worth it to make some of these things a part of your day. Especially seeing as we have an increased amount of downtime on our hands at the moment.