Flu season! Tips on Taking Care of Your Sick Spouse!

It's the time of the year when hugging and squeezing is replaced by coughing and sneezing. As we face colds, sinus infections and all kinds of dreaded incarnations of the Flu, many of us will be faced with taking care of our sick sweethearts. How to tend to them and not get sick yourself is a well-learned art. Here is some guidance to avoid ending up ill yourself and finding that a fever is the only heat in your relationship!

Wash Your Hands - While you're dealing with their tissues, hot foreheads and soup bowls, you're being exposed to their germs constantly. As any medical report will tell you, one of the best defenses against catching and transmitting a cold or flu is washing your hands regularly. Consider having hand sanitizer around throughout the house. After you baby your sweetheart, go and wash your hands immediately. Avoid doing it in front of them so they don't feel like they're one giant unwanted germ!

Avoid Sharing Germs - Kissing, hugging and any other physical represenation of your loving should be put on hold. Being close during intimacy whether it be hand holding or sex brings one healthy partner into the sick filled arena of the sneezing, hacking, coughing partner. As they get better, you can start back slow and even then, consider cheek kisses for a little bit!

Sleep Separately - If they've feverish, sneezing, coughing and highly contagious, consider giving them the bed all to themselves while you take the much healthier guest room, couch or floor. Pass it off as letting them be more comfortable in a big bed by themselves (but really you're avoiding their plague!)

Wash Clothing, Sheets, etc - Germs love dirty and unwashed material. Sick people don't like to get in the shower and love to stay in dirty and unwashed clothes and bedding. As much as you can, keep the bedding, sheets, linen and your sick sweetheart's clothing clean. Make them change their clothing often rather than just lay around in their nasty sweats and t-shirts.

Keep Yourself Healthy - Eat right, rest often and make sure you keep your immune system strong with vitamins and lots of fluids. Many times, while taking care of a partner, the healthy person lets their health become secondary and BAM, they fall ill next. Keep your mind and body healthy to fight off the germs in the house.

Get Them to the Doctor - Finally, be ready to get your stubborn lover to the doctor if their illness persists.