Ways to prevent the common cold! Protect yourself from the common cold!
This is Dr. Jim weighing in on our not so friendly friend, the common cold. I recommend kicking the cold viruses to the curb using three tried and true strategies. First – protecting yourself and avoiding it; second – preventing the spread of it to others; and third – building your immunity to block this pesky condition.
When it comes to protecting yourself and avoiding the common cold, here are some things you can do, and should do regularly.
Wash your hands frequently throughout the day with warm soapy water, especially after coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose. The CDC recommends a scrub of at least 20 seconds.
Teach your children how to wash their hands too and encourage them to do it often. And make certain you wash your hands before eating or handling foods that you are preparing for others.
Sanitize your hands regularly with one of the many products sold over-the-counter for this purpose. Personally, I like Purell products. They are sold in convenient sizes, have a refreshing scent and spread easily without residual stickiness.
Stay away from people who are sick. Avoid crowds. If you use mass transit, stand instead of sitting to avoid the infectious spray of coughs and sneezes from people around and above you!
Greet friends and acquaintances with a gentle closed fist, rather than the grip of a handshake. Research shows that germs are most often spread hand to hand!
Clean shopping cart handles and computer keyboards used by others with sanitizing wipes before utilizing them.
And finally, viruses enter your body through your eyes, nose and mouth. Avoid touching these areas with your unwashed hands.
This is Dr. Jim for Be Healthy! Be Happy! hoping this message powers your path to happiness!
Reference: Common Colds: Protect Yourself and Others. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/dotw/common-cold/ [accessed November 14, 2016].