how do i prevent a common cold?

Question

i feel like i'm about to get a common cold - the reason i say this is because i always feel this way just before it happens, i.e. a mild throat-ache etc...

anyway, i want to prevent it because i've got an exam coming up in 2 days and i don't want to go into it feeling sick. it has happened before and was rather unpleasant.

so does anyone have any tips as to how i can try and stop this from getting any worse?

thanks for your time

Answer 1

Aiii...NO ONE CAN PREVENT COMMON COLD, unless your immune system has incorporated ALL the immunoglobulin variable regions coding for all of the cell-surface antigens of ALL rhinovirus organisms.

I have a "strong" immune system and I get colds still; the only reason why other people do not get sick is that 1.) they stay away from sick people and/or 2.) they have an immune system that recognizes a vast number of rhinoviral cell surface antigen that easily detects and kills the virus (which could translate that they have a high serum titer of antibodies, although this is very rare).

Can't prevent cold if it "wants to get in to the cold situation", since you are still in the latent phase of the infection, and symptoms are just starting to expose itself. All I can tell you is that straining your health will make your metabolism work hard, and thus give your immune system a hard time coping with the infection in your system; aggressive intra-oral fluid replacement (water, garden variety gatorade) is a recommended option to replace lost fluid in your body, and help maintain your internal temperature without causing any fever. DO NOT TAKE and ivIg or any antibiotics because you will just make yourself miserable if antibiotic resistance persists.

Again, you can't stop it once "it" wants to go that way; all you can do is maintain your health...you can't have a super immune system because nothing like that exists. You, and everyone for the matter, get diseases because this is the only way your immune system gets stronger! Believe it or not, this is the case.

And to the nurse, no! You don't treat the symptoms or else the patient dies; YOU TREAT THE DISEASE!!! What type of crappy nurse school taught you to treat the symptoms? You'll only go in circles doing that--treat the disease!

Answer 2

Vitamin supplements are fine to take and don't forget zinc. Regular, thorough oral hygiene will help reduce the number of bacteria and viruses in the mouth thus reducing the number of rhinoviruses that make their way down the respiratory tract. Good hand hygiene helps too but it's not the only means. Avoiding close contact with people who are coughing is another way. Get lots of rest, eat well, stay well hydrated. A way that I and some other nurses I know swear by is to use Zicam oral spray or RapidMelt tabs at the very first sign of a cold. I've heard of Airborne but I have no personal experience with it.

Answer 3

One of the reasons that we get more infections in the winter months is a lack of Vitamin D, which we get through the sun. Vit D is an essential component of our immune system. A couple of recent studies has shown that at the early stages of a cold, ie now for you, that taking 2-3times the RDA (recommended daily allowance) of Vit D helps to prevent the infection.

So i recommend you get yourself some Vitamin A, D and E supplements - for the next 5 or so days you should take about 15micro grams of Vit D.
PLEASE be careful about what you take though. Overdosing of Vit C gives you diarrhoea.

Answer 4

Vitamin C for starters. Try to limit your exposure to extreme temperature changes, i.e. going from a nice heated house into 5 degree cold. I know you need to go places, but definately keep your head and ears covered. Most of your body heat escapes through the top of your head. Most of the time when I feel a cold hit me, I feel it in my ear and down to my throat. Rest up and drink lots of fluids. Hydration is very important. Go ahead and get cold meds too so you can get a jump start on keeping your symptoms in check.

Answer 5

Yes, Ferrum Phos 6X and Allium Cepa 30 (if sneezing starts) will help you abort the cold at this stage. Both are available in your neighborhood health food stores (they are homeo medicines). Take a few doses of Ferrum Phos 6X tablets (each does cabe 4 - 6 tablets taken dry on the tongue or dissolved in a little water, don't swallow the tablets). They are milk sugar based and I hope you have no lactose intolerance and other allergies.

You could also take 2 to 3 grams of Vitamin C.

Answer 6

Vitamin C will boost your immune system as a good prevention supplement.

Answer 7

Treat the symptoms.

As any good nurse will tell you, the best way to
prevent being ill is to wash, wash, wash your
hands regularly.

Answer 8

you can prevent common cold before touch virus if you are ill you must rest and drink warm liquid

Answer 9

You should take vitamin c and something to strengthen your immune system.

Answer 10

Wash your hands.