1. Avoid Sick People Like the Plague
Both the cold and the flu are highly contagious. Airborne particles--invisible to the naked eye--carry the viruses. If you are around someone sick, avoid touching your eyes or nose. The virus attacks these particularly sensitive membranes. If you have a compromised immune system, or you're particularly worried about catching a virus, going to busy public places, such as the mall or a movie theater may not be a good idea, since odds are someone out and about is sick.
2. Sanitize and Sterilize
The best way to prevent the spread of colds and the flu is simple: wash your hands. Sterilize anything that a person with the virus has touched. Wash toys that sick kids have played with to prevent the spread of germs. Keep a hand sanitizer on you during cold and flu season (October to March) for quick sanitizing. Remember, the more people that touch it, the more likely you are to pick up germs from it. Handrails, elevators buttons and magazines in public places are all breeding grounds for viruses.
3. Viruses Can Get Complicated
The cold and the flu are viruses. While there are antiviral drugs the doctor can give you for the flu if you catch it soon enough, there's no magic pill for colds. It's simply a matter of time before the virus is gone--usually two days to two weeks. If symptoms last longer than that, or you get worse after a few days, visit the doctor. Secondary infections are possible after catching a virus. The elderly and children are especially susceptible to complications.
4. Relieve the Symptoms
When you have a cold, nasal congestion and coughing are the worst part. Decongestants help the pressure and runny nose. Ease your coughing with a suppressant and expectorant. Acetaminophen and ibuprofen can alleviate fever and the discomfort it causes. Cough drops can be a lifesaver for those coughs that won't seem to quiet, and the sore throat that goes with it.
5. Keep It to Yourself
Once you have a cold or the flu, protect others from it. With a cold, cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough. Stay home if you have the flu. In either case, you're still contagious as long as you have a fever. Be courteous to others by not sharing your germs. In particular, steer clear of older folks and small kids, because viruses can cause major problems for them.
