By Philip Gegan
They say prevention is better than cure and nowhere is this more true than when you are talking colds and influenza. In this article you're going to read about all the things you can do to prevent yourself from catching the common cold or flu.
Knowing your enemy is vital, and in particular we are going to cover what causes colds, where in your body cold germs can be found, how they are passed from person to person, and what you can do to avoid infection.
When you're suffering from the common cold you're usually the host for a germ called rhinovirus. This virus makes its home in the membranes of your nose. Its presence causes your immune system to release what are called inflammatory mediators. These then tend to cause excessive mucus gland secretion, hence blocked sinuses, runny nose and the feeling your head weighs a ton.
In this condition you will probably sneeze frequently, owing to the irritation this germ causes to the sensitive tissues of your nose. Each sneeze launches thousands of tiny droplets, each containing the virus. In cold surroundings, such as outside in winter, the germs will die quickly if they don't find a host. In warm surroundings, such as inside warm buildings, they will live much longer, increasing the chances of other people becoming infected.
This is probably the most common way in which colds and flu are spread. The other main way is by the cold victim carrying the virus on his hands, through sneezing or blowing or wiping his nose on his hand, and then touching objects or people (door handles, shaking hands, etc).
So how best to avoid succumbing to colds and flu when people around you may be carrying it? Most important is to breathe properly. By that I mean to breathe through the nose, not the mouth. Any droplets carrying the common cold or flu virus will be trapped by the tiny hairs lining the inside of your nose and dealt with before they can fully enter the body and take a hold.
Breathe fully. Utilise the full volume of your lungs. Most of us breathe very shallowly unless we are exerting ourselves. This makes us more susceptible to germs and viruses. Breathing fully, or "power breathing", as I call it, gives us the best possible chance of expelling foreign bodies and overcoming any that do get through.
Aside from power breathing there are a few other habits you can adopt to stay healthy. Hygiene is important. When returning home from, for example, shopping, always wash your hands. This will dispose of all germs acquired from door handles and other such items handled regularly by the public.
Washing your hands after using the rest room or your own bathroom is another must. This can help prevent food poisoning and other violent stomach upsets as well. When you have to shake hands with people, wash your own hands as soon as possible afterwards. Avoid putting your hands in or near your mouth or eyes at all times.
If you have any cuts or open wounds on any part of your body, particularly hands and fingers, dress them appropriately with a bandage or swab until the wound is closed, as this is another potential point of entry for microbes and viruses.
Finally, what about flu jabs? Only you and your doctor can decide if a jab is right for you, and that will depend on how vulnerable you are to the current flu strain. Remember that a flu injection can protect you only from the specific strain of flu that it is designed to counteract. Strains of flu mutate all the time, so if the strain covered by the flu jab you've had is different from the strain of flu that you encounter then it probably won't help.
If you follow the advice set out here - proper breathing and proper hygiene - and use common sense, then you should be well placed to avoid all those nasty common cold and flu germs floating around out there.
Philip Gegan is a writer and practitioner of Acupressure. He challenges you to read his advice and NOT be able to press away at least 10 kinds of pain, including headaches, colds, flu, hangovers, asthma, heartburn, and even... acne(!) at http://www.pressawaypain.com
