The most important thing to remember about the common cold, or any sickness for that matter, is this: PREVENTION IS KEY!
- Avoid touching your face with your hands, especially after touching doorknobs, sink/toilet handles, phones, etc.
- Always wash your hands thoroughly and often – sing the birthday song. Hand sanitizer doesn’t help prevent the spread of germs as well as washing your hands carefully.
- Disinfect commonly used surfaces (handles, phones, etc.)
- Make sure you exercise, get enough sleep and stick to a healthy diet to support a strong immune system.
How You Can Self Diagnose the Common Cold:
- A cold usually begins with a sore throat. This can then be followed by a runny nose, cough, congestion, sneezing and oftentimes fatigue.
- You will begin showing signs of a cold over the course of 24-48 hours, while the flu sets in abruptly and without warning.
- With a cold, a fever with body aches are rare. A fever usually indicates the flu or a different infection.
Treatment to Cure the Common Cold:
- Time is the only cure for a cold. However, if symptoms last longer than 7-10 days, contact your physician immediately.
- Drink plenty of fluids (water, juice).
- Get an ample amount of sleep.
- Over-the-counter cold medicines are helpful in relieving symptoms.
- Ask your pharmacist about herbal remedies: Echinacea, Zinc, and Vitamin C.
