Six ways to avoid a cold

Posted on Jan 23rd 2007 9:46AM by Jonathon Morgan

Filed Under: Healthy Habits, Diet & Weight Loss

Argh! It's that time of year when every time I turn around I'm infected with something. Today my throat itches, yesterday my nose was running -- with a 2 1/2-year-old in the house, we're never short on cold-causing germs. If everyone's sick in your house, check out these tips to help you avoid catching more colds this winter.

-Make all calls on your cell to avoid getting germs from other phones.

-Carry your own pen everywhere. Borrowing others' is a prime way to pass germs.

-Sneeze into your elbow if you're caught without a tissue (and teach kids to do the same). It keeps germs off your hands.

See the full list and the accompanying article at Prevention.com. (Thanks to Life Hacker for the link.)

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

Kay 1-24-2007 @ 8:24AM

One of the suggestions listed on the Prevention site is to wipe down areas you touch with a soapy sponge. Ummm, soapy sponges are FULL of viruses and bacteria.

Sheesh!

lexy 1-24-2007 @ 8:38AM

invest in a bottle of vitamin c(500mg)take 1 a day.

hurricane andrew 1-24-2007 @ 8:47AM

Echinacea extract--every day from October to March. I havent had a cold in 6 years.

Lori 1-24-2007 @ 9:30AM

Great tips, except for the "Make all calls on your cell phone" one. I'd rather have a cold than brain cancer. See: http://www.mercola.com/article/cell_phones/index.htm

Debbie 1-24-2007 @ 9:22AM

And WASH YOU HANDS often with warm water and soap, especially after leaving the bathroom. Grr! Don't spread your germs around!

Dianne 1-24-2007 @ 4:54PM

Good advice, especially washing your hands frequently; also drink lots of water and I eat extra garlic, ginger and spicy food...keep the indoor temperature around 65-68 and humidified with cool mist!

Melissa 1-24-2007 @ 11:54AM

ok uh duh it doesnt take a genious to know all that. tell me something i don't already know. and how ditching the sponge and spraying down common surfaces with a disinfectant, instead, and immediatly washing all dishes used by someone who is sick. or using hand sanitizer when you can't wash your hands right away. all these ideas help too.

justpicky 1-24-2007 @ 12:21PM

Winter time , stay away from people as much as possible , it does work . Wipe everything done including your funiture , wash bedsheets , comforters , always keep the house in order , wipe door knocks , wash hands before /after you while cooking , and read other advices on this message board. There's alot of things a person could do , if they dont want to get sick especially wintertime.

Reny 1-24-2007 @ 1:19PM

What I do to prevent a cold.
At the first sign of an itchy throat, or repeated sneezing, I gargle with listerine as soon as possible 3 or four times a day. This relieves the itch and stops the sneezing, and another cold is avoided.

Kristen King 1-24-2007 @ 7:04PM

Politely declining to shake hands is another good idea. Someone told me about a doctor they knew who only bumped elbows with people during cold-and-flu season to avoid picking up germs.

Kristen
http://www.livelywomen.com/

Alexis 1-24-2007 @ 11:23PM

If everyone would just wash their hands frequently and STAY HOME AND AWAY FROM OTHERS WHEN SICK there would be many fewer colds and flu outbreaks to deal with every winter. PLEASE IF YOU ARE SICK, STAY HOME! DON'T BE A MARTYR AND GO IN TO WORK - THEY WILL SURVIVE WITHOUT YOU! Thank you

BO 1-25-2007 @ 11:14AM

I don't have fever, cold and flu for about 4yrs. i'm 36, I don't like household work, I am sure many germs home, 2 cats, . I don't feel cold easy in the winter time. I like temputure between 65-70, leave window open in winter time. I don't exercise/work-out. I am not on diet. My office have 30 people, everyday hear someone get sick but me. I wish I know what make me stronger. But I think improve your immune system is important too. I try to think of why since 4 yrs ago. perhaps, I always don't have time for lunch, I drink milk at lunch time instead. butter toast bread, milk with cereal for dinner sometime. other than that I may have to give credit to GOD, give me good health.

lawofcsgo 1-26-2007 @ 1:57AM

I think that 2 of the recommendations are questionable. Sneezing or coughing into your elbow or sleeve probably catches less than half the germs, and sends the rest flying. Instead, sneeze or cough into your hands, and then immediately go wash your hands before you touch anything. Also, wiping surfaces with a sponge is just spreading the germs and bacteria that fill a wet sponge (unless it was just microwaved wet for 2 minutes). Instead, use a spray like antibacterial 409 or Lysol, wipe with a paper towel, and throw the paper towel away. That way, you eliminate existing germs without spreading more of them around.

bill 1-25-2007 @ 11:05PM

Use Korean Ginseng on a daily basis. I haven't had a cold in 17 years ever since I started using Korean Ginseng. You can find korean ginseng either at a chinese grocery store, a health food store, a department store like walmart, a drug store like rite Aid or just order it online.

goofydreamer 1-26-2007 @ 5:29AM

yeah all the above is a serious matter you all are giving good advice about to stay away from the flu or cold. But if you just keep taking plenty of Vitamin C and drink lots of Juices and Water. Eat a nutritious foods and not alot of sugar you will be fine. Sugar tends to get you sick alot to. That is eating to much of it. But cut down on it and eat and drink healthy things and you will feel better. Eat alot of vegetables and fruits. And drink alot of water that cleans all the toxins out of your system and the bad bacteria. Try drinking bottled water not from the tap.

Dr. Rafael Rodriguez II 1-27-2007 @ 8:43PM

To avoid catching a cold wear a warm hat, use a scarf, do not walk out with your coat opened. Do not drink out of cups or utensils that another person with a cold or flu has used. Wash your hands before eating.

Rhonda 1-28-2007 @ 2:43AM

Ok so you cant do all the things listed and you do get that yucka feeling. I dont give this out to everyone only my friends, but we are all friends right?
1. Peel and chop 2 cloves of fresh garlic from bulb.
place garlic in a cup
2.Squeeze 1-2 lemons into the cup w/garlic
3. red ground chile pepper or 4 shakes of hot sauce into cup with other ingredients.
4. small dash of salt.
stir the mixture good and just down it. dont think about it just do it.
Surprise the mixture is really quite good.
make sure to eat a small piece of bread or cracker to keep the mixture from upsetting stomach. Its important to get all the garlic out of the cup rinse it with water and drink the remainder.
Most important prevention. Run like crazy away from people coughing ,sneezing that are too inconsiderate to stay out of public. I guess like the saying goes "Misery love company" But hey folks
Not everyone has Medical insurance or can go to the doctor so our health is in our own hands.

p curley 1-27-2007 @ 10:03PM

Echinacea every day? I was advised you should go 7 to 10 days on and 2 or 3 days off. Also, to the one who suggested staying home from work. Easier said than done. Many jobs have inflexible deadlines (or at least managers make them inflexible) which force people to go to work sick. Your work just piles up while you are gone and when deadlines are not met, especially when work is reviewed a month or so later, they don't care that you were sick. You just get written up for not meeting expectations of the job, and threatened with adverse action, such as, bad annual appraisal, loss of promotion, or reduction in position, or, in worst case, fired.

Libby Palmer 1-27-2007 @ 10:31PM

My mother always swore by listerine and it works great for my family. That with all the other common sense we know, should help everyone.

Bob bOBSON 1-27-2007 @ 11:10PM

Astragalous. It's an herb, comes in pill form; an antiviral. Works great. Zicam swabs work great.

Also, a recent study in Switzerland proved that 10 minutes per day/ 5 days per week in a sauna reduces the propensiy for illness by something like 60%. And it's great for your sinuses.