Preparing for BlizzCon: Protect yourself against Con Crud
BlizzCon approaches! Preparing for BlizzCon is your regular source for tips on how best to prepare for Blizzard's gaming extravaganza.
Every con I have ever been to, gaming-related or otherwise, has resulted in a bunch of people getting sick afterward -- usually including me. I've heard it called Con Crud, confluenza and the grunge. Whatever the name, it's pretty much the same: cold and flu symptoms that lay you low after attending a convention. As we've discussed before, I'm no doctor, but there are some experts out there with tips on building your immune system in the weeks before BlizzCon.
Sleep: Get 7 to 8 hours a night. Sufficient sleep helps us reduce stress on our bodies, which makes them stronger for fighting illnesses. It also helps us maintain a healthy weight. Late night raiding sessions and/or small children make this more difficult, of course, but it's a worthy goal.
Exercise: Getting regular exercise makes your body stronger (duh) and helps you sleep better at night. It also produces chemicals that enhance your immune system. So, adding walking to your routine to help your feet will also help you avoid Con Crud.
Eat well: A well balanced diet with high doses of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins. It's hard to find an expert who doesn't recommend doing this for overall well-being.
Take supplements: Dr. Weil recommends eating garlic daily as well as other herbs listed here. And just about everyone recommends taking Vitamin C. Any over the counter vitamin and mineral supplement will contain much of what most experts agree helps build up your defenses
When we get closer to the event, we'll talk about last minute steps we can take to protect us. But if we start building our immunities now, it will be easier to prevent post-BlizzCon downtime brought on by picking up some nasty geekborne illness. We also may be able to stay healthy, so we aren't the ones carrying yuckiness to our fellow Blizzard fanboys/girls.
Or Blizzard can enchant the exits of the Anaheim Convention Center with Cure Disease scrolls. They can do that right? I want to believe.
Edited to add: The above advice is for the time we have before BlizzCon, not during. Getting good sleep and eating well is very, very hard to do at any convention.
BlizzCon 2009 is coming up on August 21st and 22nd! We've got all the latest news and information. At BlizzCon, you can play the latest games, meet your guildmates, and ask the developers your questions. Plus, there are some great looking costumes.
