Nobody looks forward to a trip to a hospital; nobody likes to fall sick. Haven’t met anyone that has really relished hospital food and if your luck is really bad then you land a matronly nurse or worse, a male nurse. Anyway, if it does befall your lot that you have to spend some time in a hospital then you need to know about the things to do so that you increase your chances of coming out healthier than what you were when you went in.

Here are 10 tips to help you stay healthy during a hospital trip –

1. Do not wrinkle your nose at hospital food; it is specially formulated for your condition and contains all the nutrients that keep you healthy and help you recuperate faster. Do not skip meals. If you wish to eat outside food or get home-cooked food for a change of taste, check with the nutritionist assigned to your case.

2. Avoid injuries, stay out of mischief. Maybe if you had stayed out of mischief in the first place you wouldn’t have had to get admitted in the first place. Do not strain injured parts while getting out of bed. In fact, avoid getting out of bed unnecessarily if your condition is bad. Age and the hospital air can exacerbate grumpiness in the elderly. They should try and stay cheerful. Think happy thoughts and use the bedpan if you can’t really walk to the bathroom. A stitch coming undone can set your recovery back and affect your health.

3. Maintain hygiene; do not share toiletries or other objects. Hospitals take sanitation and sterilization seriously but germs can find a way of traveling from a person’s nose on to his hands and then on to yours. If you find the bedding, towels, and toilet, basically anything not looking clean and fresh, make it known.

4. Keep yourself informed on your progress. Even though your doctor is the ultimate decision maker, it will help if you know where you stand on the road to recovery. Ask questions from the hospital staff and they will surely add to your knowledge on what to eat and how to best conduct yourself during the hospital stay so that you increase your chances of staying healthy.

5. Stay relaxed, it’s easier said than done but is an important factor in speeding your recovery and keeping you healthy. Stay positive and stress-free. Mental health is as important as being physically healthy.

6. Consider activities. Physical and mental alertness are important. Even if you are advised complete bed-rest; do not let your faculties waste away. The hospital therapists will definitely ensure that your muscles don’t stiffen and you get some movement daily, co-operate with them.

7. Take time out daily to withdraw into a private space mentally and reflect on your progress. Believing that you will overcome is the first step in tackling the issue. Look forward to visits from friends and family.

8. Know what works best for your body according to your age, gender, physical conditioning. A pregnant woman’s efforts to maintain health in the hospital will vary from what an old person admitted for hypertension will do.

9. Know what healthy means. Keep targets and try to achieve them. A person healthy enough to be discharged is not as healthy as a completely healthy person, he still needs care. Try to regain health and vigor above that minimum threshold.

10. Finally, the thing that you should do first; before even checking into the hospital. Research. Find out about the hospital’s reputation for patient care, the food quality, hygiene, staff friendliness. You can ask people who have been admitted to a hospital for feedback.