‘Tis the season for traveling, holiday feasts and quality time with extended family. It’s also cold and flu season; unfortunately, so some of the festivities may increase your likelihood of becoming sick.

How we get sick in the first place

During the holidays, our practices see an increase in the number of patients with upper respiratory infections, strep throat and ear infections, according to Christina Skariah, D.O., a Primary Care Physician at Piedmont Physicians of Evans. “The increase can be attributed in part to frequent travel, exposure to large crowds and lack of sleep,” she said.

Preventative measures that truly work

"While it’s inevitable that you’ll come in contact with germs, it is possible to prevent illness," Dr. Skariah explains.

Wash your hands more frequently. "No matter where you are, you want to have a way to clean your hands," Dr. Skariah says. "It’s smart to bring your own hand sanitizer, especially when you’re in situations where you don’t have control of the conditions."

Clean up your space. Dr. Skariah also recommends sanitizing the spaces your hands touch most often. "At the office, wipe down your keyboard, phone and mouse when you come back from lunch and at the end of the day, especially if other people are using your workstation," she said. "Germs can be transmitted by touch and droplet spray from sneezes and coughs."

Mind your manners: Also, be sure to wash your hands before eating and drinking, especially at parties or outside your home. "Practicing simple hand hygiene and eating responsibly can protect you from getting sick," Dr. Skariah says. "When you’re with large crowds, especially, wash your hands before touching and eating food."

Take care of yourself: "Don’t discount the basics," Dr. Skariah said. "Get plenty of rest, drink at least eight glasses of water a day, stay active and eat nutritious meals. Tired and run-down people are more susceptible to germs."

So, you still end up getting sick. Now what?

If, despite your best efforts, you end up with a sore throat, fever or body aches, Dr. Skariah offers advice for shortening the length of your illness as well as ways to avoid spreading it to your loved ones. Depending on the severity of your condition, you may or may not need to see your doctor.

Keep a thermometer in your home so you can monitor your temperature if you suspect you’re getting sick, she says. For adults, a high fever is one that is above 100.5 degrees. See your healthcare provider if you’re normally healthy and still feel rundown after two to three days. "Some medications can shorten the duration of influenza," Dr. Skariah said. "Also, our providers can prescribe antibiotics for bacterial infections, like ear infections or strep throat."

If you feel generally not well, but don’t have a high fever, most people can wait it out for a few days and manage by sticking to these basic recommendations:

• Stay hydrated with clear liquids such as water, unsweetened juice, broth or tea with honey and lemon.
• Use over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen or acetaminophen to lower your fever and ease body aches.
• Avoid rich, fatty foods and replenish lost nutrients with healthier choices like fruit, lean protein, vegetables and low-sodium soup.
• If your stomach is upset or you are nauseous, stick to bland foods like crackers and dried toast.

Finally, if you are sick, consider others, Dr. Skariah urges. "Take extra precautions around those who might have a compromised immune system," she says. "Avoid hugging or touching them, and consider wearing a face mask to avoid spreading germs."

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