The Best Ways to Avoid the Common Cold

Having a healthy immune system is your best defense against catching the common cold, flu or any other contagious disease. Harmful bacteria, microbes and viruses are all around us and those with a compromised immune system are more susceptible to getting frequent colds and infections. Sometimes with a person who has a compromised immune system the common cold can quickly turn into pneumonia or a serious respiratory infection, both of these would require hospitalization. Studies show that getting the recommended daily amount of vitamins and minerals every day is a sure way to build up ones immune system. Studies also show that getting 7-8 hours of regular sleep each night and drinking plenty of fluids will keep your immunity up and you will have a good chance of avoiding the cold season all together.

The most common place a person comes in contact with the cold or flu virus is in a public situation such as; the grocery store, department store, the gym, hospitals, work and so on. The time we spend dealing with the public is what gives you the risk factor. If you are a homebody and rarely go out, you are less likely to get a cold, but as we all know this is not the case for everyone. We all have bills to pay and a job to go to along with the need of food and clothing. So avoiding going out to public places is not the answer. There are several things you can do to avoid catching the common cold or flu.

• Make sure to wash your hands frequently during the cold and flu season, this is very important. Even though some viruses are transmitted in an airborne environment, most of the cold and flu viruses are hand-to-hand contact with an infected individual. Both the cold and the flu virus can live on any known surface for about 3 to 4 hours and then can be picked up by the passing people who unknowingly touch a railing, sink, door handle, carts and just about anything else you can place your hands on in a public place.

• If you have a cold or flu, avoid going into public places or at least cover your mouth when you cough and sneeze.

• Eat a healthy balanced diet that has all the traditional values like, vegetables, fruits, dairy, fish and lots of protein from quality meat.

• Take vitamin C on a regular basis. Studies show that vitamin C reduces the chances of getting the common cold.

• Protect your eyes; the eye area is an open window for bacteria to enter. If someone with a cold coughs in your face, you are most likely going to come down with the cold. To greatly reduce this from happening, it is recommended to wear prescription or sunglasses to protect the eyes.

These are the most common statistics about America and hand washing.

• 49% of Americans do not wash their hands after they pet their animals (dogs and cats).
• 36% of Americans do not wash their hands after they cough or sneeze.
• 25% of Americans do not wash their hands after touching currency (money).
• 79% of Americans admit to not washing their hands after changing a dirty diaper.

97% of Americans surprisingly say that they wash their hands after using the bathroom, but when this was observed in a public bathroom only 64% of the people actually washed their hands after using the bathroom, a lot of people when asked if they wash after using the bathroom lied.

References for this article came from TYLENOL.com and commoncold.org and my personal experience in the medical field as a Medical Assistant.