How To Prevent A Cold
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How To Prevent A Cold
Although incurable, a cold can be easily prevented by following some very easy steps. This video explains how we catch a cold and the way to prevent an infection.
I'm going to talk to you about how to prevent a cold. Now, we all know that there's no cure for the common cold. But there are some ways you can help yourself to prevent getting a cold.
Now, the first thing you can do for yourself is actually to boost your immune system. Your immune system is the part of the body that helps us fight infections. Colds are caused by viruses and your immune system is able to fight viruses if it's healthy.
Now, good things to boost your immune system are certain vitamins, for example, vitamin C and vitamin D, also taking a supplement such as zinc. And then, there's a whole other type of supplement called probiotics which can really boost your immune system. About 60% of our immune system actually comes from our gut.
So, if your gut is healthy, and you have a lot of friendly bacteria, which are called probiotics, then that is a really good way to help you prevent getting viruses such as colds. The other thing that is good for your immune system is exercise and keeping your stress levels down. Obviously, not always easy, but we know that when people are stressed, or working too hard, or not getting enough sleep, they're more likely to get a cold or any other virus.
Apart from your immune system, the other way to think about preventing a cold is really thinking about how people catch colds. And we catch colds from other people. From work colleagues, from friends, from people on the bus, so you have to think about protecting yourself in these environments.
So, for example, it's very important that we wash our hands because a lot of viruses are actually transmitted from surfaces. And if you're touching public surfaces, such as a handrail on the bus, or tubs in the public toilets for example, then it's important to wash your hands to get rid of those viruses. Now, obviously, I would never suggest that people isolate themselves in order not to pick up coughs and colds from our friends.
But, being in social situations and being in overcrowded places, is an obvious way to catch a cold. So, if you are feeling run down, then it's important to avoid those types of situations. So, that's a few ways you can think about to prevent a cold.
We know there's no cure, but there are some things you can do to try and stop yourself catching one. .