How to Stay Healthy Before, During and After the Convention
Every year, hundreds of thousands of people head to conventions to talk about technology, games, computer geek culture, and even knitting! At the end, visitors come out with swag, information, and sometimes with a rather nasty cold. Protect yourself from the notorious “scam” and leave these meetings free.
As we’ve all seen in countless zombie movies, just one Patient Zero is enough to send a wave of death. Events such as the San Diego Comic Con (SDCC), Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), SXSW, and Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) create ideal conditions (mostly huge crowds and many people touching the same items) for the rapid spread of the influenza virus. bounce from person to person. If you don’t roll inside the bubble, you are vulnerable.
While exposure alone does not guarantee full-blown illness , people with weakened immune systems – perhaps due to inadequate rest, excessive stress, and other unhealthy lifestyles – are much more likely to develop symptoms. Here’s what you can do to help your body reflect (Space?) Invaders in conventions and any public functions.
Take precautions before leaving
Ideally, in the weeks or months leading up to the convention, you should consider a few simple lifestyle changes. Like many things in life, including boosting your immune system , nothing worthwhile happens overnight:
Adopt an exercise program
You don’t have to strive to look like Captain America’s Chris Evans, but regular low to moderate activity boosts immune function . What’s more, those who exercise and tolerate something generally experience a muted response compared to their non-exercise cohorts. While the overall decline in infection rates is not yet directly related to regular exercise, you will find that this is just a drop in the ocean of exercise-related benefits .
This doesn’t mean you have to go from idleness to weight training in the gym or running marathons. When you first transition from a sedentary lifestyle, a quick 30-minute walk a couple of times a week should be enough to start reaping the benefits of exercise.
Eat a balanced diet
Everyone could stand and eat more fruits and vegetables .
You don’t have to always love the food you eat, but you do need to include a variety of proteins (beef, lamb, chicken, fish), vegetables, fruits, fats (avocados, animal fats, nuts, dairy), and sources of carbohydrates. (potatoes, rice, oats, even bread) provides your body with the nutrition it needs to function best. Variety is key because different foods will have different amounts (or very different) vitamins and nutrients.
If you do not follow a balanced diet, a dietary deficiency can occur. Deficiency of certain micronutrients , such as zinc, selenium, vitamin E, vitamin A, folic acid and iron, has been associated with impaired immune response. The Harvard Health Publication suggests taking a daily multivitamin if you think you are not getting what you need from your diet. Others generally discourage the use of supplements, citing the fact that they are a waste of money and often unnecessary .
You can find out if you’ve met (roughly) your daily vitamin and nutrient goals by tracking your food intake over several days in an app like the Cron-O-meter on a web page like FitDay , or by talking to a registered dietitian.
Take care of yourself during the convention
It’s easy to drop caution when you’re in the thick of things, but once you’re on the show floor, walk up to panels and surrounded by other scammers, you’re now more vulnerable than ever. Here are some things to remember:
Get a full sleep
This is probably your number one priority. Many of these conventions will have events running around the clock, enticing you to dive deeper and deeper into sleep deprivation. Lack of sleep leads to a weakened immune system and, ultimately , many risk factors for increased mortality . Overall, this is a serious concern for your immune system.
What counts as “proper” sleep depends on your sleeping habits. Some people will need a full six to ten hours , while others may skate less. Some will even need more. However, sleep can seem unnecessary when a lot is happening and you only have a few days to see it all. Try to think about what you can give up. Weigh the advantages of focusing on multiple speakers or panels, for example, versus the disadvantages of not focusing on others, so you really remember what you saw.
Drink plenty of fluids.
Adequate hydration keeps the protective layers of the mucous membranes of the skin, nose and mouth healthy. The dried mucous membranes will allow these nasty insects to take root in these areas. Plus, dehydration simply opens up a host of other potential problems, such as headaches and dizziness, that you shouldn’t be dealing with.
Minimize your alcohol consumption
Most conventions bring new and old friends together in hilarious fun (and most likely to the level of frills). While it’s all fun and games at the time, alcohol will strengthen your immune system. In a study published in the aptly named alcohol , researchers at Loyola University found that one episode of binge drinking was enough to alter immune function. Although the study noted an increased anti-inflammatory state in its subjects, the researchers noted that the effect was short-lived, and the immune system essentially became less effective than when the subjects were sober!
If you are forced to drink, at least exercise in moderation.
Collapse contact
While some form of human contact is unavoidable at these events, our own Alan Henry suggests “bumping your fists with people,” not a handshake. It’s a bit silly, of course, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention mentions that viral infections like the flu are most likely transmitted through infected water droplets when people sneeze, cough, and wipe their snot with their hands and touch surfaces.
Wash your hands
Some people may overdo it with hand washing, but it’s best to just wash your hands before eating and touch your face or mouth. If you’re uncomfortable running to the bathroom to soap yourself every time, carry a portable hand sanitizer with you at all times. Harvard Medical School reports that alcohol-based disinfectants are more effective than soap and water alone. However, soap and water are just as helpful in most situations, so make sure you wash your hands properly.
Don’t forget to recharge after the convention
You are not quite clear yet – you just climbed out of the oven into the pan, so to speak! You’ve probably spent the last couple of days paying little attention to your body’s signals for rest, proper nutrition, and proper hygiene. It’s time to sit back and relax.
With everything that happened, you’ve probably all wound up like a pretzel. Get enough sleep and do what you love to relax and relieve stress. Go for a walk, relax and watch Netflix; damn it, watch the comedy . The old adage “laughter is the best medicine” is no joke; real laughter can have a positive effect on your immune system.
Now for the tricky part: you need to avoid catching the flu to nerds from coworkers or other less fortunate people who haven’t read this survival guide and get sick. Good luck!