Preventing a cold: hygiene
The most important measure to prevent a cold is hygiene. Cold viruses can survive for a long time on the skin or on the surface of objects. Therefore, the following recommendations:
- If you have had contact with someone with a cold or have touched potentially contaminated surfaces (e.g. door handles, bus or train stop bars, stair railings), avoid touching your face and wash your hands as soon as possible.
- Don’t drink or eat from the same dishes as a person with a cold.
If you have a cold yourself, you can at least protect those around you: If you have a cold, wash your hands after every time you blow your nose. Don’t leave used tissues lying around; dispose of them immediately in the trash. Wear a mouth-nose protector if necessary.
Prevent a cold: diet
Nutrition also plays a role if you want to prevent a cold. In general, you should eat as varied and balanced a diet as possible. Fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and dairy products contain many vitamins and minerals. They help the body to build up a powerful immune system. Meat and animal fats, on the other hand, should only be consumed in moderation. This also applies to alcohol.
Do vitamin C supplements help?
Preventing a cold: Rest
Getting enough rest and recovery can also help prevent colds. Make sure you get enough sleep. Too little, restless or irregular sleep is a strain on the body. Viruses can be fought less well, and the illness is often more severe. But not only against colds, also against many other diseases sleep is an essential factor for prevention.
Also try to reduce stress factors. These include, for example, work pressure, trouble with colleagues and relationship problems. But positive life events such as a wedding or a welcome job change also mean stress.
Prevent cold: cold and damp
So, to prevent a cold, you should always make sure that your clothing is sufficiently warm in winter. At very low temperatures, a scarf in front of the mouth protects the respiratory tract.
Preventing a cold: Further tips
Doctors recommend, for example, that you air your home regularly – especially in winter. The exchange of air helps to expel cold viruses that accumulate in the air. In addition, you should move at least once a day in the fresh air. A walk of about half an hour is enough for this.
It also makes sense to wear gloves in winter. This not only keeps your fingers warm, but also prevents pathogens from door handles or grab bars from getting directly onto your hands and from there onto your mucous membranes (for example, when you touch your mouth). However, this only applies if you do not touch your face with your gloved fingers!
