Targeting the Common Cold
Prevention and Treatment Strategies
Modes of Transmission
Hand-to-hand contact
once the virus gets on your hands, touching your mouth, eyes, or nose will make you susceptible to a cold; good hand washing is essential - wash hands for 15-20 seconds with soap & warm water.
Touching a hard, non-porous surface
recently touched by someone with a cold. Cold bugs can live outside of the nose for up to three hours. Wash your hands often.
Through air
Although this is not very common. Cover your mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, don't cough or sneeze into your hands. Always wash your hands after coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose.
Tips to kick a cold & feel better
Drink lots of fluids
Hot drinks soothe your throat and loosen secretions. Chicken soup helps to increase the flow of nasal secretions. Alcoholic beverages dehydrate you and slow your recovery.
Gargle with warm salt water to reduce swelling in the throat.
Increased humidity may help
but avoid hot water humidifiers, which cause scalding and burns.
Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen
ease aches and pains, and lower fever.
