We’ve all heard it – “I can’t afford to get sick right now!” Neither can we! So, don’t let old wives’ tales dictate how you prepare for the upcoming holiday season. We’ve got the information on how to keep you from getting that common crud.
Typically, it’s assumed that when it’s cold outside, you could get a cold! However, that couldn’t be further from the truth. While cold weather may irritate a condition you already have, such as asthma, which can make you more susceptible to a cold virus, cold weather cannot give you a cold. The cold is spread entirely by viruses – more than 250 to be exact. That is why it’s quite difficult for researchers to create a drug to cure the cold, as there are so many viruses that could cause it.
So until a cure is found, prevention is key. You can do so by:
- Washing your hands.
- Coughing or sneezing into a tissue.
- If you don’t have a tissue, turning your head away from others and sneezing into the bend of your arm.
- Refraining from touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
- Disinfecting shared surfaces often.
If you fall victim to the pesky cold, here’s what you can do to get some relief:
- Drink lots of fluids to help prevent more infection from setting in.
- Avoid drinks with caffeine, as they’ll dehydrate your body.
- Follow your appetite.
- Try natural remedies such as zinc nasal spray, Echinacea, or Vitamin C.
- alk to your doctor about over-the-counter medicine to ease the symptoms.