Sneezes, sniffles, or coughing fits can affect many aspects of daily life when it comes to
cold and flu season, making you feel irritated, lethargic, and even sore. This year, help safeguard yourself and your family against bothersome symptoms like
dry cough,
runny nose and more – discover our top three essential tips to help you get through the season and soothe those
cold and flu symptoms.
1. Maintain a healthy immune system
A healthy immune system is your best weapon for
cold and flu prevention. Keep your family's natural defences strong with these simple tactics:
- Avoid stress.1 Studies show that stress hampers your ability to stay healthy, especially during cold and flu season, so anything you can do to combat stress will help you fight germs. Try taking a mini meditation break during the day – meditation is touted as an effective stress reliever.2
- Stick with a bedtime.3 When you consistently log seven to eight hours of sound sleep a night, your body has the chance to repair cells and maintain your immune system. Learn more.
2. Take precautions
When you take certain precautions during the
cold and flu season, you can lower your risk of getting sick. Try these simple habits to help avoid stuffy noses and sore throats:
- Wash your hands. Washing your hands regularly with soap and water can reduce the virus counts on your skin,5 and studies have found that hand washing can reduce the risk of acute respiratory infection.6
- Keep your nose warm.7 There has been research to show that our resistance to cold and flu infection is weakened when our nose (and nasal lining) is exposed to cold air. Ensuring that your nasal area stays warm in cold weather could help prevent colds.
3. Think Vicks for when cold and flu symptoms stike
Despite your best efforts, it can be tough to make it through the
cold and flu season without anyone in the family getting sick.
The Vicks range ensures effective symptom relief of
cough and cold, when you need it:- Vicks® Sinex
- Vicks® VapoRub
Sometimes, prevention is often key to avoid catching a cough or cold. Top tip: Carry
Vicks® First Defence around with you which can be used at the first signs to help stop a cold in its tracks, before it takes hold.
[REFERENCES]
1. Eccles, R., Weber, O. (eds). (2009). Common Cold. Etiology of the common cold: Modulating Factors Doyle, W., Cohen, S. In: A. Schmidt, O. Weber, S.H.E. Kaufmann, eds., Birkauser Advances in Infectious Disease Series. Switzerland: Birkauser Verlag, pp. 159.
2. Goyal, M., Singh, S., Sibinga, E.S. et al. Meditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Wellbeing A Systematic Review of Meta-Analysis. JAMA intern Med (2014). 174(3): pp. 257-368.
3. Cohen, S., Doyle, W., Alper, C.M., Janicki-Deverts, D., Turner, R. Sleep Habits and Susceptibility to the Common Cold. Archives of Internal Medicine (2009). 169(1): pp. 62-67.
4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Common Colds: Protect yourself and others. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/Features/Rhinoviruses/index.html. Accessed January 2016.
5. Rabie, T. and Curtis, V. (2006) Handwashing and risk of respiratory infections: a quantitative systematic review. Tropical Medicine and International Health. 11(3), pp. 258-267.
6. Eccles R. (2002) An explanation for the seasonality of acute upper respiratory tract viral infections. Acta Otolaryngologica (Stockholm). 122: pp.183-191.