Cold & Flu Prevention And Treatment

On any given day you expose yourself to a multitude of pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi as you interface with other people in the workplace, at school, through public transportation, and even with other family members. This is simply a natural part of living in the world, to which a healthy body can easily adjust and compensate.

Prevention

Because the cold and flu virus is passed around from person to person, the only way to really prevent them totally is to become a hermit. The more people that you come into contact with the better your chances are of catching the virus. If there is a lot of cold and flu sickness going around here are some ways you can help reduce your chances of catching them:

  • Flu Shots
    Get a flu shot every year. Your family doctor will give you more information about flu shots such as when to get them and if he/she recommends for you to get it.

  • Getting Your Rest
    One of the overlooked reasons for catching a flu or cold is a lack of rest and sleep. Inadequate rest and sleep can cause the breakdown of your immune system, making you more vulnerable to the cold and flu viruses.

  • Washing Your Hands
    Washing your hands on a regular basis will help out a lot. This is because most of the time you catch the virus by touching someone that has it and then rubbing your eyes, nose, or mouth. You can also catch the virus if someone near you who has is it sneezes or coughs and you breathe it in... not really much you can do about that.

  • Avoid Sudden Temperature Changes
    Keeping warm and avoiding sudden temperature changes such as being in a warm home and going into the cold outdoors will help prevent the virus. Always wear warm clothing when moving from a warm place to a cold place, as this will increase your resistance to these viruses.

  • Quit Smoking
    If you smoke then you should quit. Smokers aren't more vulnerable, but when they catch a cold or flu virus the symptoms are much worse than if they are non-smokers. Kicking the habit is not easy but will be well worth it when it comes to your health. There are many products that can assist you in breaking the habit such as Stop-It Smoking Kit and products like Smokeshield that can protect your lungs from smoke and other pollutants.

  • Keep Your Immune Systems Strong
    Maintaining a strong immune system is very important to preventing the cold and flu virus. Your immune system is what fights off the viruses and keep you healthy and feeling good.

  • Being Prepared
    One of the best defenses against the cold and flu is to be prepared for it in the even that you or a family member catches it. Having cold and flu treatment products in your home ahead of time is much better than rushing out to the 24 hour convenience store at 3 a.m. trying to find something to comfort yourself or a family member.

Treatment

Just because there is no guarantee that you will not catch a cold or flu virus, that doesn't mean that you can't treat it. Here are some treatments that you can use to make someone with the virus more comfortable:

  • Rest in bed and stay warm. Avoid any physical exertion as much as possible.

  • Drink plenty of fluids such as water, juice, and clear soups. Stay away from alcoholic beverages.

  • Take plenty of Vitamin C.

  • If you are a smoker then avoid smoking and inhaling the smoke from other people.

Find more information about colds and flu viruses along with prevention and treatment products at eVitamins who provided this article.