Preventing colds.

Hand washing first, also a hand sanitizer when out. I take Vit c with Zinc daily, and havent had a cold for years (keeping my fingers crossed)
Vicks First Defence sounds marvellous, next time I am in the UK I must buy one, havent heard of it until today.

I should have added selenium to the cocktail, although I don't actually use this is it keeps me awake and I have too many problems sleeping anyway.

My husband suffers from COPD ,so I am neurotic about catching colds. I swear by vitamin C , echinacea, and first defence. I also use an antibacterial spray in the house when necessary.Of course washing hands frequently goes without saying. I wish people were more thoughtful about not spreading germs. For most people a cold is nothing to worry about,but you never know who may be battling illness which makes them much more vulnerable.

At first signs ~ A cocktail of echinacea, zinc, garlic and vitamin C and D supplements. Repeated a few times over a couple of days. It works for me. Also a hot brew of water, manuka honey, lemon and chopped up fresh ginger.

I take Zinc with vitamin C tablets to boost my immune system and hopefully fight off any colds.

I agree too with hand washing and frequent laundering of hand towels. I wear gloves when shopping and taking the bus in winter, and if a lot of people in either shops or buses are obviously full of the cold I pull my scarf up in front of my nose and mouth as a mask. Even when I wear gloves, I wash my hands as soon as I have got home.

If you are living with someone who is frail and at risk, I would feel justified in wearing a surgical mask while out shopping - they can be bought in any chemist's shop.

I don't seem to catch colds very much any more, perhaps one of the perks of having stuck the teaching profession out until retirement age?

It has to be the hand washing as number one preventative. I have compromised immune system due to chemo, and the hand washing is always stressed to me. We all touch our mouth, nose, eyes and ears many times a day. These are all ways for the cold germs to invade our bodies.

A couple of years ago my doctor put me on a high dose of vitamin D which I take daily for fibromyalgia. Just the other day I realised I'd not had a cold since. (It's also given me fabulously strong nails!)

Try Echinacea, daily. It's natural, not chemical.

For years and years and years I have been telling a cold to go away at the first sneeze. Mind over matter. I have not had anything other than a little sniffle in 30 years. 30 years ago I had a cold so bad I can remember it.in great detail. I decided then to try this simple idea Ok I can hear you laughing...it has worked for me though. We have more control over our bodies than most realize....

Vick's First Defence works. Use four times a day.

Since getting a really awful flu virus 2 years ago which almost saw me off I always wash hands after going out and use hand sanitizer while out . I will try the nasal spray which a few have recommended . I feel the frequent hand washing has really helped the last couple of years as I have only had one cold instead of the usual frequent ones .

Interesting post for me as I start chemo on Friday. Hand washing alone wont stop a cold as I believe the grrms are airborne, but I will purchase hand sanitizer. Avoiding crowded places is sensible, but not always an option with so many hospital appointments.

I agree with hand washing especially after shopping and using public transport. I also use sanitiser if eating or drinking out and someone recommended a smear of tea tree oil under your nose each time you go out, but don't know if this works.

Remember each one you get is one you'll never get again.

If anyone can really find a defence against colds they will be millionaires.

I do lots of hand washing and use First Defence. My husband was doubtful but used First defence when others in the office had colds and when he was car sharing with them and he didn't catch anything. Not conclusive of course but we feel worth trying the same thing this year.

I felt I was coming down with a cold yesterday. Last night I used Vicks First Defence. This morning I didn't feel it was any worse thankfully. I'll keep using it this weekend so hopefully it won't progress into a full blown cold.

For the past few years I have always had with me hand sanitizer for when out shopping and use it all the time when handling money at checkouts/buses/restaurants etc also 2/3 times a week have a couple of oranges I don't shop of a week-end when loads of children are about in the shops anti-social I may be but my health comes first.Always have in the cabinet Dual Defence.

I use hand washing, an anti viral hand cleaner which I also use for door handles etc if anyone with a cold has been to visit. Plus the dual defence (the assistant in Boots told me the staff are given it to use in the Winter) and take Vitamin C. I've no way of knowing if that lot works but I do find I'm resilient to colds unless I'm very stressed when I am guaranteed to catch one which seems to last for ages. No failsafe I'm afraid.

Not sure about the hand washing - a friend of mine I'd scrupulous about that but gets more colds than I do, really bad ones.
I think avoiding public transport helps.

Many thanks. Interestingly I have just bought some dual defence so will use that. And agree with the hand washing.

Hand washing and more hand washing. Wash your hand towels more often than most of do (myself included) . I'm lady MacBeth and in addition, have taken to using a detol spray on a cloth to wipe down door handles etc. I also take a supplement of vitamin C combined with zinc which my GP says is well researched as a positive.

I am a bit concerned about colds this winter as OH is very frail now - and we have the little ones a lot. I will get some dual defence.

Yes hand washing. I wear gloves as much as possible in winter, and in fact have a shopping delivery to keep away from the crowds.

Nothing to be done about your DGC - they do grow up very quickly though