Guest Author - Melissa Weise

Although even healthy people get an average of two colds a year, you can still do many things to avoid getting a cold or a dreaded flu this season. As the weather and light changes during the seasonal change, people tend to be more susceptible to getting ill. This may be because our bodies aren’t used to the climate. Even in hot regions, the weather changes as the season changes and so our bodies are using a lot of energy to get used to the change. This could also contribute to our being susceptible to getting a cold.

The weather is not only getting colder, but it is often getting wetter as well and so people tend to stay indoors more where the air circulates less than outside, especially when the windows are closed. Not to mention, kids go back to school in the fall and in large crowds, germs get passed around more.

Of course, there is no magic pill to avoid getting a cold. In fact, there is no cure for the cold either because it is a virus. So the only thing you can do once you get it is manage the symptoms with pain and fever relievers like Tylenol, antihistamines for sneezing and runny noses, and cough suppressant. Then you just have to wait for it to run its course.

A flu may be viral like a cold or bacterial. The main difference is that a flu is much more intense than a cold and usually has a high fever with aches. Often, you will just have to medicate a flu’s symptoms but if it is a bacterial infection, you doctor may prescribe an antibiotic.

You can, though, avoid germs that cause the cold. To do this, you need to stay in well ventilated areas. Keep the windows open as long into the season as you can and stay in fresh air as often as possible. You also need to stay clean. Wash your hands often and use hand sanitizer when you can’t get to soap and water. To properly wash you hands, you need to run them under hot running water with soap for the length of the song “Happy Birthday”. Try it. It is actually longer that you are probably used to.

To help your body feel strong in the changing weather, make sure to dress appropriately. No matter the style, runny noses and pockets full of tissue are never worth it. Often teens will wear shorts into the winter. Be careful with that. Your legs are the largest portion of your body and if they are exposed to the cold and wet, you body can get taxed and run down. Then, the germs will be more likely to take hold if you are exposed.

To stay strong, also be sure to get enough sleep and eat healthy. Some say that citrus fruits with lots of vitamin C keep your body strong against colds. They are definitely a good part of a healthy diet. There are also products out there that seem to help prevent the common cold through strengthening your immune system. Airborne, a tablet that fizzes when dropped into water for a tasty drink can be very helpful if you can’t avoid being around crowds of people (like at school). And to avoid the flu, you can ask your doctor about getting a flu shot although it won’t protect against all the flu germs the you will be exposed to this season.

Overall, the best way to avoid the common cold is to keep your own immune system strong. Because once you have it, there is not much else you can do.