Colds and illness in winter

[Scrubby]

Hey guys,
Despite winter being my favourite time of year, it does come with the downsides. And of course I mean being ill.
Now I don't know about you guys but I am always getting ill throughout winter with colds and stuff.
Anyone have any handy tips, tricks or advice to prevent or shift a cold?
Thanks guys!

[JinjaMakes]

Wash your hands all the time! Get some antibacterial gel or solution and use it after you've been on the bus, touched a handrail. You might be clean and sneeze into a tissue but other people aren't!
I always wipe my desk at work if I know someone else has been sat there.
Keep warm, avoid going out in the wet/snow for too long. Also try eating lots of vit C (oranges are the best)

[Clairealex]

I hate winter colds

I'm so OCD about washing my hands etc, but as jinja says, not everyone else is. I share a car with my boyfriend and go as far as wiping down the steering wheel before driving when I know he has a cold!!

Antibacterial gel doesn't do too much against colds, as they're viral, but I do have an antiviral foam that I use. I can honestly say it hasn't prevented a cold at all I've heard garlic pills are one of the best things for immune systems overall. I bought a tub from a health food store (odourless of course ) and hopefully that'll give me a boost!

[hamsterfun]

I work in a pharmacy so I am surrounded by people with illnesses. I have found that not taking anything/using hands foams works best. I was last ill/had cold in May 2012. It is only recently that I developed a cough. Between this time I haven't used any products to try and prevent getting ill. IMO these products all just have a placebo affect and don't work at all. Many of my colleagues use hand foams religiously and they are always ill. If your gonna get ill, you will. Has anyone had any successes in using these types of products?

[Stacks]

Since I started getting the flu jab every year, I've had very few colds - only 2 in 5 years. Even when sharing a house with an infected husband and baby! I've met a few people who have also reported similar, but it's all just anecdotal. Definitely no studies behind it.

Still, you can get the flu jab from pharmacies for about £10, so could be worth a try next year maybe?

[Scrubby]

These are pretty interesting points. As to getting rid of colds though, any way to shift them? I know hot drinks are good and I work in a coffee shop so I have plenty of flavoured teas to hand.

[Clairealex]

The only way to get rid of a cold is to let it run it's course such nasty wee viruses! The only thing we can do is treat the symptoms. I stink of olbas oil when I have a cold and use honey and lemon water for my throat.

Hot drinks are very comforting. I like ginger and peppermint teas when I feel bunged up. Worst is when I have a massive cold at work and I spend my entire day going back and forth to the kettle haha.

[hamsterfun]

For blocked noses pseudo ephedrine is really good. Although it can act as a stimulant so be careful taking it at night. Plenty of paracetemol for pain and fever. A lidocaine throat spray for sore throats or lozenges such as tyrozets. Guifenasin for chesty coughs or pholcodine for dry/tickly coughs. You can buy the day/night nurse which treats most symptoms. I would stick to over the counter medicines rather than those on general sale. They are stronger and more likely to work, but check with pharmacist before taking. I'm a healthcare advisor at boots.

[TomiC]

As Claire says; colds will pass in their own time. Things I find help; Hot lemon and honey drink at bedtime. Keep warm. Get plenty of sleep and drink plenty of water/juice/herbal tea etc. to stay hydrated.

As for avoiding them; I used to get colds all the time. 4-5 a year. A few years ago I was persuaded to start racing triathlons! The training made me a lot fitter and I only had one cold in 5 years! Due to time constraints, I haven't raced this year and done virtually no training. Result; 3 colds so far this winter. Triathlon training is a bit extreme but, a healthy diet and regular exercise will strengthen your immune system in the long term to help keep them at bay.

[Eriklover555]

One thing to remember is that people who religiously try to avoid encountering germs generally get sick more often and more seriously. Your immune system uses germs as as sort of practice, if you will.

Hospitals are cleaned more strenuously than most places on earth, and yet some of the worst pathogens develop there despite all the effort. Why? Because any bacteria/virus that survives or has a resistance to the sanitizers is that much more durable.

So, practicing cleanliness is fine, but going overboard on antibacterial/antiviral agents can cause more harm than good, at least in the opinion of the doctors I've spoken to.