General measures
- Observance of the general rules of hygiene! One of the easiest ways to keep yourself and others healthy is to wash your hands regularly. Hands should be washed under clean running water for at least 20 seconds.
- Nicotine restriction (refrain from tobacco use)Note: Cigarette smoke can make some methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains even more resistant.
- Limited alcohol consumption (men: max. 25 g alcohol per day; women: max. 12 g alcohol per day).
- Limited caffeine consumption (max 240 mg of caffeine per day; equivalent to 2 to 3 cups of coffee or 4 to 6 cups of green/black tea).
- Aim for normal weight! Determination of BMI (body mass index, body mass index) or body composition by means of the electrical impedance analysis and, if necessary, participation in a medically supervised weight loss program or program for the underweight
- BMI ≥ 25 → participation in a medically supervised weight loss program.
- Falling below the BMI lower limit (from the age of 19: 19; from the age of 25: 20; from the age of 35: 21; from the age of 45: 22; from the age of 55: 23; from the age of 65: 24) → Participation in a medically supervised program for the underweight.
- Review of permanent medication due topossible effect on the existing disease.
Vaccinations
The following vaccinations are advised, as infection can often lead to worsening of the present disease:
- Flu vaccination
- Pneumococcal vaccination
Travel vaccinations in immunosuppression
- Vaccinations with inactivated vaccines (hepatitis A, early summer meningoencephalitis (TBE), polio (inactivated polio vaccine), typhoid, rabies, Japanese B encephalitis and meningitis) are possible, but the immune response is reduced.
- Live vaccinations (relevant to travel medicine are the oral polio and typhoid vaccine and yellow fever and intranasal influenza vaccine) are contraindicated.
- Accompanying persons should always have optimal vaccination protection!