Even Wonder Woman Can Get a Cold - by Danu

Ever have the feeling there’s a rat inside your face trying to claw it’s way out though your nose and eyes? I have, and it’s not as pleasant as it may sound. The feeling I am referring to is just one symptom of the common cold. There is not much else I detest more in this world than being sick.

This is what I feel like right now.

The thing is, there is nothing or no one I can blame. I work in several venues, around older people and younger people, I go to the gym (where I know people don’t wipe down their machines after using them.) I could pick up this incurable demon anywhere. From everything I have read on the subject, I’ve deduced that between 1/2 and 3/4s of people infected with cold viruses don’t show any symptoms! Since they don’t know they are capable of spreading the cold they’re carrying, they don’t take any special precautions. If the people at the gym are any realistic sampling, most people don’t even wash their hands after using the toilet.

Butt, it looks clean…

There are over 200 strains of the “cold” and there’s probably not going to be a vaccine any time soon. The things that don’t cause a cold are things like cold weather, wet feet, etc. The main correlation between cold weather and colds is dry air. Cold air ouside holds less humidity, as does the hot air from heaters inside your house. This dries out your mucous membranes which makes them more susceptible to infection. Also, keeping windows and doors tightly shut recirculates contaminated air making people more likely to breathe in contaminants.

My gift…

To you.

Now, contamination occurs from hand to hand (or phones, doorknobs, handshakes), then to his/her own eyes and nose (self-inoculation) or by droplets sprayed into the air from sneezing (which are inhaled by another person.) Viral infections can remain viable on hard surfaces up to forty-eight hours.

Just when you thought cards were safe…

This situation can be worsened still by living or working in close quarters, sharing drinks and lip balm, sharing common space and touching the same surfaces. People living in dorms are just asking for it.

Let me count the ways to infect you…

The main ways to avoid catching a cold are the following:

1. WASH YOUR HANDS! - Wash them every chance you get; it will hurt nothing and help everything (and everyone) around you. Also, for “washing” to actually be useful, you must vigorously rub your hands together. Those people that wet their hands on the way out of the bathroom make me laugh. Also, long nails are much more likely to carry germs so watch out for people with “falsies!” Liquid soap is definitely preferable to bar soap. Oh, and it doesn’t matter if it’s cold water- which surprised me- it’s just the vigorous rubbing! Now, who doesn’t like vigorous rubbing?

Just like the doctors on TV!

2. DON’T TOUCH YOUR FACE! - Every time you touch your eyes or nose or mouth, you’re potentially sticking other people’s nasties into your temple.

3. DON’T SNEEZE OR COUGH INTO YOUR HANDS! - I know this might sound weird; but, I sneeze into my shirt.

The Polite Society

I’m not a snotty sneezer, so that isnot a problem for me. I do, however have the peace of mind knowing my hands are not contaminated- just my cleavage… watch out boys! Girl cooties! Another option is aiming for your armpit. Whose in your armpit, hmmm?

4. DRINK WATER (or non-caffeinated drinks) CONSTANTLY! - Being dried out makes you much more susceptible to getting sick and caffeine dries you out -for reals!

5. EAT CABBAGE FAMILY MEMBERS! - Not people with the last name Cabbage, but items like Broccoli, cauliflower, mustard greens, kale, Brussels sprouts (I don’t like them either.) Add onions, garlic, citrus, berries, tomatoes, peppers, whole grains and seafood and you’re sure to ward off the cold better than those around you.

Eat me!

6. RELAX! - Stress will definitely lower your immune system, (you’re twice as likely to get sick when you’re stressed) so take a break (but not a smoke break because that damages the cilia in your nose and lungs which are the first line of defense against infection.) Yoga, deep breathing, T’ai chi, regular exercise, music, even bubble baths might be the thing that keeps you from getting sick.

Treat yourself well and BE well…and quit getting me sick! I have three jobs to go to!!!