How to Avoid Getting Sick When Exposed to a Sick Person at the Office or on an Airplane

It seems that germs run rampant in many offices, and this time of year when winter is ending and spring allergies are starting, it is difficult to know who is contagiously sick and who just has allergies. But when it is so expensive to miss a day or work or be sick for your big presentation, it is important to try to keep well. Here are some simple things you can do at work if someone comes into work sick and you want to stay well.

Don't touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. Once you have germs on your hands, the areas more susceptible for contamination are by touching your nose or mouth (or touching your food and putting it in your mouth) and rubbing your eyes. We all do this more often than we realize, and it is the fastest way to infecting yourself.

Wash your hands. It seems simple, but the best thing to do is wash your hands frequently. You and the office sickie are both touching the same stuff: the door knob, water cooler and drinking fountains, the coffeepot handle the doughnuts in the break room, the copy machine and fax machine buttons, and they are getting their germy hands all over the place. If you use someone else's' keyboard or mouse, they likely have not cleaned it since touching their mouth or blowing their nose with a tissue and then touching the mouse again with the same hand. Use a hand sanitizer or keep wipes at your desk after exposure, especially before eating any food you have touched (candy, snacks, or your lunch). Research indicates that washing your hands when exposed to a contagious sick person is different than normal cleaning up, when you have been exposed to germs, wash between the finger webbing and fingernails, and to rinse hold your palms straight down and let the water rinse down your hands dripping off your fingers to maximize germ-fighting.

Don't shake hands unless necessary. Have you noticed on Donald Trump's show "The Apprentice" that he rarely if ever, shakes hands, even with very important people? In an interview he explained why: many people, including fans, go out in public when they are sick and don't know it yet, and for him to get sick might mean missing a meeting or not being on his toes, and that is just too expensive for him when he is making million dollar deals. While you may not be wagering a million dollar deal, missing work or taking a vacation day is just too expensive, so find an alternate way to convey a warm friendly overtone without shaking hands when possible. While "the Donald" does the palms together, partial bow greeting that is used in many other non-US parts of the world, you might be able to employ initiating a hand on the shoulder and a warm greeting such as "it is good to see you". If it is your boss or in front of your boss and you are reluctant not to shake hands, of course, do shake hands but try to wash your hands before touching your face or your food. While it is impractical to avoid shaking hands completely, and I do not advocate a Howard Hughes like germ phobic approach of not shaking hands when someone else has initiated doing so or not doing so when it would be rude not to, but it can at times be avoided if you initiate an alternate means of greeting.

Those three means of avoiding sickness are important even if someone does not look sick, because often the contagious stage for flu and flu-like sickness is before the person is sneezing and coughing and obviously not feeling well. But at times no matter what you do to avoid it, you are exposed and you start to feel the symptoms: your throat is scratchy, you are congested and sneezing, your ears hurt and you are tired. It is time to drown that germ to death in my practically never fails "I do not want to get sick" remedy:

Vitamins: I take as soon as possible the following vitamins: L-lysine (Nature's Made brand is readily available), Alpha Lipoic Acid which is a super all around anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant, Zinc if you can tolerate it, and Vitamin C. If possible to keep on hand in your desk or bag, the form of Vitamin C called Ascorbyl Palmitate can be taken in much higher dosages since it is fat soluble it is easier on your stomach and it is hard to overdose. At the first signs of illness, I try to take a tablet every hour or two for the first several hours. Vitamin Shoppe makes an easy to swallow capsule. It is more expensive than regular Vitamin C from the grocery store, but you can take more of it. Of course, chewable vitamin C is great to keep in your desk as well.

Fluids: Water is good, tea is better and green or white tea is the best for flushing out your system. Some green teas are also high in vitamin C, as well as some herbals such as Hibiscus tea, which is a very fruity tea, sort of like if someone poured some Kool-Aid in your tea and heated it up. Unfortunately, flushing out your system means you will be going to the bathroom a lot, but at least you know that you are attacking the germs. Caffeinated beverages like a hot coffee of a nice cold can of Coke always make me feel less congested and more alert, but they can also dehydrate you, so try to get some water based beverages in there as well. Orange juice, if available is high in Vitamin C, as well as a number of the Snapple type drinks commonly found in vending machines.

Food: Yogurt helps build immunity in your intestinal system and helps fight infection. It can temporarily bolster your ability to fight a cold or that nasty stomach bug going around the office, as well as minimize any nasty upset stomach symptoms that might be some upcoming features that are entailed in this sickness. Fruit contains both Vitamin C and fiber, which helps your intenstine soak up waste contents in your body and hopefully soak up the germs right with it.

Commercial preparations are available for exposure in enclosed spaces like airplanes and classrooms, such as Airborne and Zycam. Airborne already has some vitamins in it so you do not need the Vitamin C as often if you use Airborne. Do note that a few ingredients in Airborne are something of a mystery so if you have any medication conflict or high blood pressure you might want to investigate the ingredient list, but Zycam is a nasal spray gel so you can take that in tandem with your vitamins.

Sleep: Sometimes it just helps to go home, take a hot shower or bath and sleep it off and hopefully you will be better by morning.