Most people know when they are catching a cold, especially when they start coughing, getting headaches, have a runny nose, or get a scratchy sore throat.
In general, adults get about three colds a year, lasting about nine days each. Fortunately, you don’t have to tolerate getting them, as there are nine tips in this article which can help you prevent a cold…
9 – Keep Surfaces In Your House Clean
If you happen to have someone in your home who is currently suffering from a cold or the flu, make sure that you have sanitized most of the surfaces in your home, including light switches, remote controls, sinks, doorknobs, countertops, drawer pulls and computer keyboards.
If you wipe the surfaces with a disinfectant solution or use soap and water, you should be able to prevent further spreading of the disease.
8 – Stop Getting Stressed!
Many people suffer from ongoing bouts with stress, something that can weaken your immune system, opening you up to the potential of catching a cold or allowing infections within your body to grow.
By doing things like yoga, socializing, getting enough exercise, or simply doing meditation every day, you can deal with stress much more efficiently, and perhaps even avoid it.
7 – Always Wash Your Hands
People who want to avoid getting cold should always wash their hands. Regardless of where you go, even if it is just to the store to do some shopping, if you go to a public place, washing your hands is essential.
Any viruses that you pick up while touching outside surfaces can be defeated by frequent hand washing.
Carrying a small tube of hand sanitizer, or using sanitizing hand wipes, can also help you after going to public places that may have germs or disease.
6 – Your Daily Vitamin D
Although most people think that Vitamin D comes in a bottle, the easiest way to get your daily dose, especially to help your immune system, is to get it from sunshine.
In 2009, in the Archives of Internal Medicine, a study clearly showed that people who were more susceptible to catching a cold had low levels of this vitamin in their system.
5 – Avoid Smoking
It has been shown that people are more likely to catch a cold or get infections when cigarette smoke irritates the airways in their bodies.
Secondhand smoke has also been shown to make people, and those around them, more likely to catch a cold than those that were not exposed.
4 – Smiling Really Helps!
Though this may sound completely unscientific, if you want to stay happy, this may be very helpful.
People that do fun things regularly, whether it is enjoying time with their family, pets, or making love with their partner, have seen a significant increase in how their immune system helps the body.
Sometimes, if you just try to smile, even if you really are not happy, it can improve your mood and how you feel overall.
3 – Get A Flu Shot Today
To lessen the likelihood of getting sick, getting vaccinated is something you need to do.
There is no guarantee that you will be disease-free, but it can definitely improve your chances of staying healthy.
2 – Do Not Touch Your Face
Whether you are regularly touching your nose, eyes, or just your facial area, this is a quick way to get germs into your body if you do this regularly enough.
By keeping your hands away from your face, and washing your hands regularly, you can help yourself stay healthy every day.
1 – Regular Exercise
To stay as healthy as possible, you need to exercise regularly to boost your immune system.
Studies have shown that people who exercise for 45 minutes or longer, four times a week, were up to 50% less likely to catch a cold or get the flu, compared to those who did a minimal exercise, according to this 2009 study.
By following these tips, you can avoid getting the common cold or the flu quite quickly. Simply getting a flu shot, not touching your face inadvertently, and getting enough exercise and sleep, you can stay healthy and fit all year long.
