Just around the time the days start getting shorter and the evenings cooler, end of season colds catch up with us. But if you’re prepared, you can avoid the worst of it.
Why now? Well, schools open around this time and viruses spread among children in close contact. Then they hop over to us. And the viruses that give us colds tend to flourish in warm or hot weather.
So what can you do to avoid catching an late-summer or early autumn cold?
GET MOVING Activity keeps your blood circulating and your body strong so that it has energy to stand up to infections. Regular exercise also makes you thirsty and causes you to drink more water. When you exercise and drink the recommended amount of water, toxins are easily flushed out of the body and the immune system grows stronger.
WASH HANDS THOROUGHLY Cold and flu viruses are most commonly spread by direct contact, such as touching a telephone, remote control or key board that was just showered by a sneeze. Try this trick when washing your hands. Rub them together hard, and sing a simple song twice. “Happy Birthday” or “Summer Time” should do the trick. Rubbing them with soap and water breaks up the germs and singing provides the right amount of time needed for the washing action to do its job.
