Answer:

While daily chores like sweeping, washing dishes, doing laundry, and cooking expend energy, induce sweating, improve joint flexibility, and reduce a sedentary lifestyle, they are not a substitute for formal exercise. Housework does not offer the comprehensive cardiovascular and musculoskeletal benefits that dedicated physical activity provides. Furthermore, many movements involved in housework, such as bending, lifting heavy objects, or standing for prolonged periods, can put pressure on the spine and knee joints.

Therefore, it is recommended to dedicate 15-30 minutes daily to physical activities such as walking, light jogging, yoga, or gym workouts. This should be combined with a balanced diet, adequate sleep, and stress reduction to promote overall health.

Currently, cold weather and high humidity create favorable conditions for the growth of viruses and bacteria that cause respiratory illnesses, including: RSV, flu, measles, chickenpox, meningococcal disease, and pneumococcal disease. These can lead to complications such as pneumonia, otitis media, respiratory failure, and meningitis. Flu cases, in particular, are rapidly increasing among both children and adults. To prevent these illnesses, individuals should dress warmly, wear masks, wash hands frequently, and get vaccinated.

Housework like vacuuming, cooking, and washing dishes helps expend energy but cannot replace exercise. Photo: Vecteezy

For the flu, there are 4 types of vaccines available from France, Netherlands, Korea, and Vietnam. These vaccines help protect against circulating influenza A and B strains and are administered to individuals from 6 months of age to adults. Children aged 6 months to under 9 years, if not previously vaccinated, require two doses administered one month apart. Individuals aged 9 years and older only need one dose, with annual boosters.

There are 5 types of pneumococcal vaccines, including: pneumococcal 10, 13, 15, 20, and 23. These protect against common pneumococcal bacteria that cause pneumonia, otitis media, meningitis, and sepsis. A doctor will determine the appropriate vaccine type based on an individual's vaccination history and age.

Measles and chickenpox vaccines are available as single-disease vaccines or in combination with protection against mumps and rubella. Completing two doses offers up to 98% efficacy against these diseases. For meningococcal disease, which causes meningitis, sepsis, and pneumonia, there are 5 types of vaccines. These can be administered to infants as young as 6 weeks. To ensure comprehensive protection against the 5 common disease-causing serogroups, individuals should receive a combination of meningococcal vaccines.

Dr. Bui Cong Su

Medical Manager, VNVC Vaccination System

Readers can submit their vaccine-related questions to the doctor here.