The Best Way To Treat A Cold Is With Prevention

No one wants to get a cold. But for most people, getting a cold during the winter months may feel unavoidable. And while finding the right cold medications can help shorten the recovery period, the best method is cold prevention. Consider incorporating the following cold prevention tips into daily life and save the sick days for playing hooky from work.

Adopt proper handwashing

Hands are an essential part of most daily activities, which explains why germs can be transferred so easily between people and objects. Proper handwashing sounds simple but is one of the most effective methods for reducing transmission of any virus or bacteria, including the common cold. Specifically, people should engage in 20 seconds of vigorous hand washing, washing every surface on the hands properly. When soap and water aren’t available, consider carrying an alcohol-based hand sanitizer to keep your hands clean. Especially during cold and flu season, people should wash their hands frequently.

Practice good etiquette

Sneezes and coughs are inevitable. But how people handle each behavior can impact how likely an individual is to infect other people. Instead of sneezing or coughing into bare hands, use a tissue. If a tissue isn’t available, opt for the sleeve and aim for the elbow. Likewise, avoid touching the face to minimize the risk of transmitting the cold virus into entry points like the eyes, nose, and mouth.

Stock up on vitamin D

Vitamin C gets all the attention for cold prevention and recovery. But many experts note that beefing up vitamin C levels isn’t linked to avoiding a seasonal cold. Instead, the winner is vitamin D. Vitamin D can be found in foods like egg yolks, mushrooms, canned tuna, and salmon and can bolster the immune system. If an individual’s diet doesn’t contain enough vitamin D, then opting for a supplement with vitamin D3, which is the form that best helps boost vitamin levels in the blood, is a good idea.

Don’t forget to exercise

Many people are surprised to find that exercise is a great way to avoid catching a cold. But staying physically active helps to accelerate white blood cell circulation in the body. The more well-dispersed white blood cells are, the better a person can fight off the common cold.

Get 40 winks

Poor sleep does more than leaving people tired and groggy the next day. Consistently failing to get enough sleep can leave people more susceptible to developing a virus, like the cold, after exposure. Experts believe the higher risk comes from lower cytokine levels, an essential protein that regulates the immune system.

Stay healthy during the cold season

Colds may be seasonal, but people aren’t destined to catch a cold just because the fall or winter has arrived. Incorporating smart behaviors like proper handwashing, sneezing and coughing etiquette, and healthy lifestyle habits can go a long way towards minimizing the risk of catching a cold. But if a person does get a cold, rest as needed, stay hydrated, and speak with a physician if severe symptoms persist.