How can you avoid colds?

Question

When everyone around you is sick, and germs are in the air as well as all your friends are sick how do you avoid catching a cold?

Answer 1

here's a link to top ten tips on how to avoid colds and flu

http://aids.about.com/od/howtostayhealthy/qt/avoid.htm

Answer 2

"How can I avoid catching a cold?

For starters, keep your fingers away from your nose and eyes. A cold virus can only make you sick if it finds a home high up inside your nose, in what's called the nasopharynx, where your nasal passages and throat meet (and where you feel that characteristic scratchy tickle when a cold is just getting started). Every time you rub your eyes or scratch your nose, you risk depositing the virus where it can drain through the tear ducts into the nasopharynx or be inhaled higher up into the nose. Keep your fingers away from your face, and you'll dramatically cut down on the number of colds you get each year.

Another good strategy is to get into the habit of washing your hands often, especially during cold season or when you're around people who are sneezing or coughing. Head for the nearest sink and wash up at least several times a day.

Finally, drink lots of water. One of your best natural defences against the cold virus is the mucus membranes that make up your nasal passages, and they simply do a better job of trapping and disposing of viral invaders when they're moist."

http://www2.vhihealthe.com/topic/colds

"Avoid catching a cold

Most people believe that it is virtually impossible to avoid 'catching' a cold, particularly during the winter months. However, there are a couple of steps which can be taken to minimize the risk of coming into contact with the virus which causes the common cold. These include:

Avoid coming into contact with people who have colds, if possible.

Do not touch your eyes or nose after being in physical contact (shaking hands) with someone who has a cold, as this is one of the most common ways of spreading the infection.

Avoid crowded, stuffy atmospheres where the risk of contracting the cold virus is much greater.

Wash hands thoroughly and frequently, especially after blowing your nose.

Keep rooms well ventilated at all times.

Drink plenty of fluids. Water flushes your system, washing out the poisons as it re-hydrates you.

Avoiding the use of cigarettes is also an effective step in avoiding cold.

Some foods may also help. Fruits and vegetables have natural chemicals that help your body use their vitamins. Also get an adequate amount of exercise.

Get plenty of rest or sleep to help strengthen your immune system.

Consider taking one 500mg tablet of vitamin C twice a day. Some scientists believe this can help boost you immune system, although there is no strong evidence to support this.

Wash off the frequently used household objects regularly with detergent and warm water or a mild disinfectant.

Be sure that each member of your household uses separate drinking cups and towels."

http://www.howtoall.com/Healthfiles/howtoavoidcatchingacold.htm

Answer 3

when things are as bad as you describe, its probably inevitable that you will catch something. Under normal circumstances, however, wearing gloves and a face mask will help cut down on your vulnerability to colds, Short of looking like you're in surgery, however, try to not shake hands with people. Wash your hands several times during the day- and use antibacterial soap and gel often, try to not use other people's phones, leave the area if you're near someone who sneezes into the air, don't lip-kiss. Some people swear by loading up on Vitamin C and Vitamin D - so that might work.
Get plenty of sleep, eat correctly, and don't fret too much.
A cold, after-all, probably wont kill you!
The flu, on the other hand, might...

Answer 4

1. take the product developed by a teacher, 'airborne'. availible at walmart, major drug stores such as CVS, Walgreens, etc. Little fizzy tablets, inexpensive.
2. If you feel cold coming on take echinasia (spelling? ) availible as capsules in the suppliment asile of the same stores. it boosts your immune system. I make my own, it's from the root of the purple cone flower.
3. Cold Eze throat lozenges when you feel a cold coming on ward it off.
4. Zinc lozenges, minimize a cold. let dissolve in mouth. very potent, all of these items are readily availible at the store.
of course wash your hands A LOT It. gets rid of everyone elses germs. Disenfect your computer keyboard. Disenfect your telephone, the handset and the speaker piece. Wash your hands some more. Don't touch your mouth, nose or eyes, where the germs get in. Drink lots of water to keep yourself flushed out. Wash hands some more.. good luck

Answer 5

Actually most colds come from direct contact so wash hands often and dont touch your nose or mouth as those are easy portals for bacteria and viruses. We started a vigorous hand washing program at work and of 12 employees, there have been no colds or coldlike illnesses in almost 2 years.

Answer 6

1. WASH your hands. This means washing with soap for about as much time as it takes to sing the Alphabet twice.

2. Take vitamins. Not Flinstone vitamins, but real ones. Preferrably Vitamin C.

3. Watch what you touch in public. ATM machines, Payphones, especially shopping carts. Push them with your forearms. If you need to use an ATM, use your knuckle (the middle one).

Just be concious of your environment...

Answer 7

Wash your hands often. Especially when you come home after being in public, wash your hands first thing. Get plenty of sleep, watch your nutrition, get plenty of vitamin C, and avoid environments that are overheated. Overheating makes people vulnerable to colds by drying out and irritating their respiratory passages and throats.

Answer 8

Stay away from your friends :)

OK, having said that - honestly, avoid being around sick people. You could do as they do in parts of Asia and get a 'mask' from the drugstore (though it works better if your sick, coughing, sneezing, hacking friends wear them!) if you must socialize.

WASH your HANDS! They are primary transmitters for a lot of germs. Wash frequently and use a bit of soap.

Orange juice, garlic, ginseng, and many other natural 'preventatives' are all claimed to boost your immune system. They can't hurt - in most cases - so if you like a shot of 'health powder' added to your Orange Julius (TM), go ahead.

Keep hydrated, and keep your mucous membranes moist. Yuck, that's an awful sentence, but do use a humidifier or something so that your nose and throat don't dry out.

And finally - read this great series of preventative tips, courtesy of USMA....

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Since there are no known cures for flu and colds, prevention must be your goal. A proactive approach to preventing colds and flu is a good way to keep every healthier. The most effective way to prevent flu, is to get the flu shot. Unfortunately, this year there is a national shortage and many healthy people will not get a flu shot this year. Don't panic, there are other ways to keep yourself and your family healthy so you will not get the flu.



#1 Wash your hands regularly



Most cold and flu viruses are spread by direct contact. Someone who has the flu sneezes onto their hand, and then touches the telephone, the keyboard, a kitchen glass. These germs can live for hours -- in some cases weeks -- and can be picked up by other who share these common items. So wash your hands often. If no sink is available, use hand sanitizer or rub your hands together very hard for a minute or so.



#2 Don't Cover Your Sneezes and Coughs with Your Bare Hands

Cold and flu germs can cling to your bare hands. Covering your mouth with your bare hands when you cough or sneeze can result in passing your germs to others. When you feel a sneeze or cough coming, use a tissue, then throw it away immediately and wash your hands. If you don't have a tissue, turn your head away from people near you and cough into your sleeve.

#3 Don't Touch Your Face

Cold and flu viruses enter your body through the mucous membranes of your eyes, nose, and mouth. Keep your hands away from your face.

#4 Drink Plenty of Fluids

Water keeps you mucous membranes moist and healthy and flushes germs and toxins out of your body. A typical, healthy adult needs eight glasses of water each day. There is a simple way you can tell if you are getting enough water. Watch the color of your urine. If your urine is clear and light yellow you are getting enough. See the chart below to monitor your fluid levels.





#7 Get Fresh Air

A regular dose of fresh air is important, especially in cold weather when central heating dries you out and makes your body more vulnerable to cold and flu viruses. Also, during cold weather more people stay indoors, which means more germs are circulating in crowded, dry rooms.

#8 stay active

Regular exercise speeds up the heart to pump larger quantities of blood; makes you breathe faster to help transfer oxygen from your lungs to your blood; and makes you sweat once your body heats up. Exercises increases your body’s ability to fight off germs that can cause the flu.

#9 Eat fresh fruits and vegetables daily

The natural chemicals in fresh fruits and vegetables provide the vitamins you need to strengthen your immune system. So put away the vitamin pill, and eat dark green, red, and yellow vegetables and fruits.

#10 Stay home if you are sick

If you go to work when you are sick, your deprive yourself of the rest you need to overcome your illness, worsening your condition. Additionally, you spread your germs to other employees. This is true of your children at school and in daycare as well.

#11 Do not Smoke

Smokers get more frequent and severe colds than non-smokers. Second hand smoke can negatively affect the immune system as well. Smoke dries out your nasal passages and destroys the small hairs that propel germs out of your nose and lungs.

#12 Drink alcohol in moderation or not at all

Heavy alcohol use destroys the liver, the body's main filter. Without your liver working properly germs of all kinds won't leave your body as fast, putting you at risk for infection. Additionally, alcohol can contribute to dehydration.

#13 Manage your stress/Relax

If you can teach yourself to relax, you can activate your immune system on demand. When you relax, your body releases agents into the bloodstream that help fight cold and flu viruses.

Answer 9

You can't really avoid it unless you want to wear a mask all the time.
You can try to 'prevent' one by - in the fall and winter season - taking garlic pills, drinking a lot of water, and taking vitamin C. Spicy food seems to cleanse my whole body out, too.

Answer 10

You can't...but you can reduce the chances by airing your living spaces, being very careful to wash hands, using mouth washes (Listerine type), increasing the Vitamin C in your diet.

Answer 11

Almost impossible but avoid shaking hands and other close contact and take Vitamin C 1GM daily