Protecting the vulnerable this Christmas

With Christmas a few days away, a local doctor shares some tips for families to collect and stay healthy.

Preventing soft people this Christmas

QUINCY () - With Christmas just days away, a local doctor offers some tips for staying healthy while celebrating at family gatherings.

Daniel Acosta, MD, a family medicine and lifestyle medicine physician at Quincy Medical Group, says that when there are many people in a room, there is a greater risk of germs spreading.

Right now, Acosta said he is seeing a lot of viral diseases spreading. Those include the flu, COVID-19 and common colds.

Many people can survive the common cold, but he said people with poor health could be at serious risk if they get sick.

To avoid spreading the virus to family and friends, Acosta recommends washing your hands frequently or using hand sanitizer.If you are around someone who is sick, he recommends wearing a mask or staying away from them.

If you feel sick, Acosta recommends staying home.

"One thing I really want to reinforce is that I tell my patients every time they go to a family gathering, if they see someone who is sick, to talk to them," Acosta said.

Acosta said cold symptoms include a headache, runny nose and cough.If you have a fever, trouble breathing, or a persistent cough, he recommended seeing a doctor.

If you have a health goal you want to maintain during the holidays, Acosta says, you should still have fun, but watch your calorie intake.

"I think with all these tips, we can avoid things like gaining weight during the holidays because it can be a problem later," Acosta said."So the idea is to just enjoy your holidays, control your portions, choose foods you like and not go overboard with calories."

If exercise is part of your daily routine, Acosta said he recommends continuing as much as possible during the holidays.He said exercise can also be a great family bonding activity.