Avoid Catching A Cold This Season

Almost nobody is immune to the common cold, but there are some things you can do to protect yourself.

According a report by federal researchers, the common cold costs Americans nearly $40 billion each year in missed work and school days, doctor visits and various medications. But when you’re all stuffed up and unable to fall asleep – or worse, comforting a sick child – you feel like you’d do anything for the symptoms to lighten up. Since the common cold is a virus (which means it’s not vulnerable to antibiotics), the best approach to fighting cold viruses is to avoid getting them. Early to Rise, a health-based non-profit, offers these tips:

• If you are around other people, wash your hands constantly and wipe down things that they touch.
• Make it a habit to use hand lotion that contains pyroglutamic acid, an antiseptic skin cleanser kills most cold viruses that are on the skin and ones introduced hours later.
• Keep your immune system strong by taking natural supplements like echinacea, vitamin C and plenty of antioxidants.
• Avoid foods heavy in starch and sugar. Both can extend the lifespan of the cold virus.
• Get plenty of sleep. Sleep is necessary for your immune system to work as well as it should.

If you do come down with a cold, it’s probably not your first and likely won’t be your last. According to the American Medical Association, adults get two to four colds a year; kids can get six to eight. For more cold and flu resources, check out the Palo Alto Medical Foundation’s guide to respiratory illnesses.