Winter in Las Vegas brings bare trees, chilly temperatures and the occasional bout of snow. However, a few abnormal flurries don’t compare to the onset of sniffles, coughs and all-out colds that flu season promises.

For casino employees, who work with and greet hundreds of people per day, colds seem inescapable. And those with children know that avoiding illness can be down right impossible. Here is an A to Z guide to staving off sickness— or at least making it more manageable.

Always carry hand sanitizer. You never know who’s carrying around a passel of germs, and unless you’re a hermit, you probably encounter a lot of people throughout the day. Better safe than sorry.

Buy Emergen-C and Airborne—whatever gets the job done. These supplements have varying amounts of vitamin C, which is commonly thought to cure the common cold. Scientists have long since debunked that myth, but the vitamin does boost your overall health, which is never a bad thing if your immune system is under attack.

Curl up at home with a good book. Or a movie. Staying indoors can ease environmental stresses (such as harsh wind or freezing temperatures) that cause many colds. A warm and comforting activity such as reading is a safe bet to cheer you up—even if you’re already sick.

Drink tea. preferably with a drizzle of raw honey. tea soothes the throat while also preventing the body from becoming dehydrated. with a variety of flavors and formulas, tea is the no. 1 comfort drink when facing sickness. you can also drink coffee, though not when you have the flu. coffee can act as a diuretic and dehydrate a flu-stricken body.

Eat plenty of nutritious food. Sometimes we become sick, or at least feel very unlike our usual selves, when we aren’t getting enough vitamins. The body falls out of balance and displays its needs in varying ways—including sickness. Eating plenty of healthy food boosts the immune system and promotes overall health.

Focus on remaining healthy. If you act like a cold is on the way, the stress of worrying about a possible illness may create a self-fulfilling prophecy. Just be more mindful of your body’s needs during the cold winter months.

Get lots of sleep. Scientific studies have shown that adults who sleep seven or eight hours per night are healthier than those who get too little sleep. Sleep allows the body to rejuvenate itself, which in turn helps you feel good when you wake up in the morning.

Have a positive attitude. Optimists may get sick just as frequently as pessimists, but at least positive people don’t allow illness to prevent them from living their lives. Keep a smile on your face and some tissues in your pocket just in case.

Isolate and treat any signs of a cold (i.e. sore throat, runny nose) before they develop into a full-blown sickness. A cup of tea or a dose of nasal spray could prevent your mild symptoms from becoming a debilitating cold.

Just breathe. Using a humidifier, if possible. If you’re already sick, post-nasal drip can often keep you from sleeping at night, or leave you with a dry throat in the morning. Using a humidifier keeps the air in your room moisturized, which will prevent your sore throat from becoming even more irritated. Steam vaporizers can be used instead if you prefer to add medication to the steam.

Keep those around you healthy with these tips! Oftentimes people don’t know (or don’t care) about the importance of staying healthy, but if you share these tips, or ones of your own, with friends and family, they just might take the extra steps to preventing the common cold.

Listen to your body. the human body is pretty smart. it knows what it needs to survive, and it almost always alerts your brain to any problems or deficiencies. if you pay attention to your body, the odds of getting sick decrease exponentially.

Make soup. Like tea, soup is hot and soothing, and though it may not prevent a cold, it sure does make meals a little bit less agonizing.

Never overwork yourself if you feel a cold coming on. You need to slow down and let supervisors know why you’re not at full capacity. Better to take care of your health than spread your cold to unsuspecting strangers.

Own warm clothing. Las Vegas locals know how harsh desert winters can be, so it’s surprising how few of us actually bundle up to face the cold air. Staying warm when you have a cold (or when trying to avoid one) is key.

Protect yourself. Though we can’t always prevent sickness, we can do our best. Avoid handshakes if you must, and if you see a friend or coworker coughing up a lung, stay away.

Quit stressing. stress leads to a weakened immune system, which becomes vulnerable to illness. remember that when you’re needlessly worrying about something.

Rest up. If you’re already sick, chances are you’re trying to act like you’re not. Meaning you’re keeping your normal schedule and all of the struggles and stress that come along with it. Stop right now. The body needs rest in order to recover from the inward attack from a cold or flu.

Stock up on cold medicine and tissues. Colds strike at the most inopportune moments, so always be prepared.

Take time for yourself. Moments alone are few and far between, but make the most of them. Happy people are often healthier than unhappy people, and happy people enjoy their quiet time.

Use home remedies. Most human beings have built-in resistance to germs, bacteria and some viruses, though that resistance can be weakened with long-term use of mainstream medications. Let the body do what it does best: take care of itself. With a little help from natural herbs, you should be fine in no time.

Vaccinate! Flu shots are typically for children and seniors, but if you’re susceptible to illness, you should suck it up and get the shot.

Wage war on germs with disinfectants at home. If you have children, bacteria inside your house is likely plentiful, so kill what you can with a stock of Lysol.

X-rays. If you find yourself unable to shake a cold, and if your symptoms become severe, have your doctor run a chest X-ray to check for pneumonia.

Yes, you may still get sick. But, hey, at least you tried!

Zen. Maintaining peace in your life and your body in the midst of illness can do more to promote overall health than any medicine. Follow our advice and hopefully lessen the impact sickness has on your life.

By Caitlin McGarry

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