cough and cold prevention

Here is a recent report:

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-30685732

We all have differing opinions I guess..

Sad but true - we haven't had a cold since the grandchildren went abroad 15 months ago. Small children are great at spreading their colds!
(Still a risk I'd take, though).

No, I don't like staying in all day janeainsworth, and I rarely do it. But I do notice I often have a mild "snitchy nose" or a bit of a cough at night on very cold days when I've been out for long.

I used to get bad colds when I was younger then on restricting my consumption of refined sugar and carbs - don't really get colds anymore - the last one just after Christmas stayed in the back of my throat and although feeling slightly off - it didn't develope into a massive head cold followed by a cough as before. My theory the virus has less yeasty/sugar to feed on.

If everyone focused on what they put into their bodies I bet disease would be cut by 2 thirds. (from my own experience.)

Let's not just look at protecting ourselves, but at reducing the spread of colds and flu by sensible precautions, such as staying at home and avoiding crowded places while we "battle on", keeping away from tinies or the elderly, wearing gloves on public transport or using handrails to reduce the spreading of bacteria. DH has a compromised immune system and although he does not wear gloves normally, always has one in his pocket so that he can use the handrail at steps e.g. at the station.
I think that we all enjoy the benefits of a healthy diet these days so I am less concerned with the necessity for supplements but avoiding bugs is better than trying to beat them and hand washing , for instance before having a coffee is such a simple precaution it is often overlooked.

I always thought that cold killed bugs that's why I was surprised to read the latest (American) research!

Someone needs to invent an effective nose cosy obviously. Might catch on with the folks from the far east that seem to think that wearing a flimsy mask will keep viruses at bay.

Perhaps something like those little hats they put on the end of gold clubs JessM? Very fetching.

There are some nasty bugs around and it seems to be just down to chance whether you catch one or not.

I babysat for my GD who had tonsilitus and didn't catch it and then babysat for my DS who only had a cold and I caught it. I've had it for two weeks and I think it's going to linger.

Jess I always thought that those flimsy nose and mouth mask things were to prevent the wearers transferring germs and bugs from their own hands to their mouth and nose

I always thought that if you wore one of those masks or a scarf round your mouth and nose the germs had a nice warm moist atmosphere to breed in.

That's exactly the point yoga I have a friend who lives in Hong Kong. She wears one travelling to and from work on public transport. We are constantly touching our faces with our hands without even registering we do it and we are touching surfaces that are germ laden all the time.

Her rational is rationale is it can't do any harm and it might prevent cross infection.

Look at my point about gloves Anya* you don't have to look paranoid like you would wearing a mask, but when a person has a compromised immune system they have to take precautions and the same precautions are a simple matter for the rest of us.

Just been to the post office and the young man having his turn at the desk asked for some stamps and then sneezed. I'm sure the droplets went right on to the counter window. Yuck! I don't think the glass is just to prevent theft!!!!!

Goodness knows yoga - but I have seen coaches of school-uniformed oriental teenagers piling out onto a sunny NSW seafront, half of them obediently wearing masks, like their mothers told them to !

Have only just seen this thread so please forgive me if echinacea has already been mentioned. I started taking it ten years ago and haven't had a cold since. When I first met my husband he was getting four to five colds a year. He started taking echinacea on my recommendation and hasn't had a cold for many years. Worth a punt.

Do you mean that you take echinacea every day throughout the year Hotmama? I thought it should only be taken when you thought you were getting a cold and only for a few days at a time

A friend starts to take- vitamin C with a couple of drops of Echinacea in September each year until the following spring and finds that this seems to prevent any serious cold or flu infections.

I think 'first defence' is a good idea to spray up your nose when amongst lots of people, or if the GC have a cold. Vaseline shoved up your nose is an alternative.

Doing food shopping online has helped. I used to get the checkout and the operator would be wiping her nose just as she was about to check me out and then push a snotty tissue back up her sleeve! Don't touch my food! I wanted to scream, but you don't, do you? So online it is, until it's warmer.

I use lemon and honey, fizzing vit C tabs, Vicks vapour rub on chest and soles of feet covered with warm socks, paracetamol and a good rub down with an oily rag.

Now, anyone have any good suggestions on how to get rid of catarrh? I stopped smoking and need to get the gubbings off my chest and then I can feel like conquering the world. Tried all above, now on ventolin but want to feel better again.

Have you tried Potters Catarrh pastills? They won't actually get rid of it, but sucking one now and again can help break the cycle a bit and give you a break.

Cheap, but be warned they taste horrid. Work for me after a heavy cold.

Dripping here - thank you dear GD!

All those lovely snotty kisses eh Mishap?

Hi Yogagran, I take echinacea for two weeks at a time and then have a break. My husband, however, takes it all the time because his epilepsy medication dilutes anything he takes and makes it less effective. We've both been on this regime for quite a few years and have been cold and flu free.