Truth or Myth: You Can Catch a Cold From Being Cold
No one wants a cold to interrupt their busy life. So, let’s take a minute to debunk a commonly held belief about colds and offer a few suggestions on how you might protect yourself a little better in the future.
According to the American Lung Association®, colds count for more visits to the doctor than any other condition in the United States. While colds and the flu commonly appear during winter months, the truth is that they are not the result of being out in the cold. One theory is that these infections prevail because it’s the time of the year when people spend more time indoors. Viruses and infections spread when many people are in closer contact with each other — and with each other's germs.
Colds are highly contagious, but there are a few things you can do to help limit your chances of getting a cold.
Avoid close contact with sniffling friends, particularly in the first couple of days of their cold when they’re more likely to spread an infection.
Wash your hands frequently, especially before you eat and after you use the restroom.
While cold weather won’t cause a cold, it can bring dry weather, which may make it easier for a cold to linger. Drink eight glasses of water a day and consider purchasing a humidifier, such as the Vicks® Warm Mist Humidifer, to help keep your environment hydrated.
If you feel cold symptoms coming on, make a visit to the pharmacy for over-the-counter cold medicine, such as Vicks Nature Fusion™, but be sure to follow dosing instructions.
There are lots of great reasons to head outside during the winter. As long as you’re smart about your health, you can be out there sled-riding and hiking along with the best of them.
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