Cold Prevention Strategies - By: Brent Cullen

It is that time of the year again when you have to worry about catching a cold , but there are several different ways that you can keep yourself from coming down with one and also passing it on to other people.

First of all, make sure to keep your hands away from your nose and eye as cold germs enter these areas very easily. Make sure to stay away from people who already have colds and if you have a cold, do the same. When you have to sneeze or cough, make sure to cover your nose or mouth and do not sneeze or cough into your hands, use your elbow instead.

One of the most effective ways to keep from catching a cold or passing one on to others is to simply wash your hands with soap and water. You should wash your hands more frequently during cold season and teach your children to do the same. If there are times when water is not available to you, use an alcohol based product that will disinfect your hands.

You should disinfect certain areas in your home as rhinoviruses can live up to 3 hours on your skin. They can also live this long on things such as telephones, stair railings, remote controls, and other pieces of furniture. These things can be cleaned with a virus-killing disinfectant which can help prevent the spread of infection.

There are also some unproven cold prevention methods that some people often use such as echinacea which is a dietary herbal supplement. Research has shown that this herb may help you in the early stages of your cold, but it will not prevent it. Another study showed that it was not at all effective in treating colds in children from ages 2 to 11.

Another unproven method involves taking large amounts of vitamin C. Many people believe that by doing this it will prevent them from getting a cold or relieve their cold symptoms. Several large scale studies have been done on this theory with adults and children and so far, there has been no concrete evidence to prove that taking large amounts of vitamin C prevents colds. There is a possibility that it could reduce the symptoms or how severe the cold is, but there is no clear evidence of this.

Honey is another treatment that has been around for years and has been used by a lot of people for cough relief and to soothe a sore throat. Studies done at Penn State College of Medicine showed that honey may be useful to relieve coughing, but researches need to do more studies on the subject.

Zinc lozenges are also used to treat colds and can be bought over the counter as well as zinc lollipops. Studies on these treatments have been inconclusive as some have shown that zinc is effective in relieving cold symptoms and an equal amount of studies have shown that it is not effective in reducing the symptoms of the common cold.

The outlook for developing a vaccine to prevent the common cold is not too bright as there are so many different viruses that can cause it, but there is always hope that sooner or later, one will be developed.

I hope that you found this information useful and if you would like more information on ways to live healthy, then please visit my healthy living web site where you will find great information to help you live a long and healthy life.

About the Author

I am a 53 year old retired mill worker from Northern Maine. I am happily married with 3 wonderful boys. My main interests are my family and God. I own a healthy living web site with great information designed to help you live a healthier and longer life. http://www.eatinghealthyhub.com

Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/Brent-Cullen/60517

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