Extra: 5 Tips For Preventing the Common Cold!

So you want the secret to staying well? Well I’m sorry to let you down, but there is no cure for the common cold! But there are steps you can take to reduce your chances of becoming infected with a virus that causes colds. Follow these five steps and the odds of keeping yourself cold-free will be much better!

Wash your hands often. This is probably the single best measure to prevent you from catching a cold. Hand washing is critical. Think about all the places you've touched today...the toilet handle, doorknobs, the telephone, your desk; these are all places that A LOT of other people have touched too. Frequent hand washing can destroy viruses that you have picked up from touching surfaces used by other people. Always try to wash your hands with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds. You can also carry a small tube of hand sanitizer or sanitizing hand wipes when visiting public places.

Avoid touching your face, especially the nose, mouth, and eye areas, if you are around someone with a cold or have been touching surfaces in a public area. Also, be sure to cough or sneeze into your arm and not your hands. This will help prevent you from spreading germs to others.

Keep household surfaces clean. Door knobs, drawer pulls, keyboards, light switches, telephones, remote controls, countertops, and sinks can all harbor viruses for hours after their use by an infected person. Wipe these surfaces frequently with soap and water or a disinfectant solution.

Maintain a healthy lifestyle. While there isn't direct evidence to show that eating well or exercising can prevent colds, maintenance of a healthy lifestyle, with adequate sleep, good nutrition and physical exercise can help ensure that your immune system is in good condition and ready to fight infection if it occurs.

Control stress. Studies have shown that people experiencing emotional stress have weakened immune systems and are more likely to catch a cold than their calmer counterparts. So when you've had a bad day at school or had an argument with your brother or sister, take a minute to relax by taking a walk, listening to your favorite music or playing ball with your friends.

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