How to Prepare for Cold and Flu Season

Studies show that the average person contracts about three colds per year, and those who are in contact with young children get even more. While there's no cure for the common cold or the flu, you can take measures to protect yourself.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Hand soap
• Spray disinfectant
• Over the counter medications (see Tips)
• Rest!

1. Know the difference between a cold and the flu. A cold can last two or three weeks; most people feel better within seven to ten days. On the other hand, without proper care or attention, a flu virus can lead to bronchitis or pneumonia.
2. Wash your hands. Frequent washing with warm water and ordinary soap for 10 seconds is one of the simplest and most effective ways to avoid catching a cold or the flu. Use antibacterial gels or foams when you do not have access to soap and water.
3. Disinfect your home regularly. Spray the surfaces in your bathroom and kitchen with a mild solution of 2 to 5 percent bleach in water to kill viruses and bacteria. (Alternately, use a spray disinfecting product such as Lysol, Clorox, etc.)
4. Consider getting a flu vaccination if you are in a high-risk population (adults over age 65, individuals with chronic health conditions, pregnant women in the second or third trimester, health care workers, and individuals with compromised immune systems).
5. Eat a well-balanced diet, which is essential to building a healthy immune system. Taking a daily multivitamin will help to ensure you are receiving an adequate dose of vitamins and minerals.
6. Get plenty of rest (7-8 hours per night). Lack of sleep can lower the immune system's ability to react when needed.
7. Stock your medicine cabinet with a supply of over the counter medications to relieve your symptoms should you get sick (see Tips section below).

Tips & Warnings

• Cold symptoms tend to occur in sequence, not all at once, so single-symptom medications (cough suppressants, pain relievers, antihistamines) are preferable to multi-symptom medications.
• If you've got a cold, don't ask your doctor to prescribe antibiotics. They do not kill cold viruses and can lead to resistant strains of bacteria. Prevention is the best approach to combat the cold virus.
• The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that aspirin not be given to children under 19 years of age due to the risk of contracting Reye's Syndrome. Children's acetaminophen and children's ibuprofen are safe when administered according to directions.