How can a cold be prevented?

Tips & tricks for a strong immune system

A cold is anything but pleasant. Often an infection catches us at the seemingly worst possible time – when we are already stressed or battered. Especially then, our immune system has a hard time. The key to preventing a cold therefore lies in strengthening our defenses, but also in proper hygiene. In addition, the resilience of our immune defense depends on many factors. That's why there are some tips and measures to prevent a cold.

Throat scratching, swollen mucous membranes and the indefinite feeling of exhaustion are the first signs of a cold. At this time, our immune system is already busy defending against the pathogens. If the symptoms worsen, then our defenses have lost their defenses for the time being and have to go the long way over curing the cold. A strong immune system is therefore fundamentally involved in the prevention of a cold by fighting pathogens at an early stage.

A cold is usually preceded by a droplet or smear infection. Often by coughing or sneezing a sick person or contact with objects on which the cold viruses are located. If they penetrate our organism, an inflammatory reaction of the respiratory tract follows. This is noticeable by the typical cold symptoms.

A flu or cold hits us particularly often in the cold season: the temperature fluctuations strain our circulation and the warm heating air makes our mucous membranes more vulnerable.

However, this only applies to short periods of stress. Permanent stress also makes our immune system permanently susceptible to pathogens and other diseases. The best recipe for the prevention of colds and Co. is therefore still: Avoid stress!

Basically, there are two main ways to prevent a cold: Strengthen our immune system from the inside or do not even come into contact with pathogens from the outside. Giving up contact with other people is effective, but definitely not the means of choice to prevent a cold. Therefore, a strong immune system in particular is essential for the defense against pathogens. Our immune system is even "trained" through constant contact with the environment. Like many other things, our immune system is closely linked to our general condition. Therefore, much of what is good for our body is also good for our immune system – and helps prevent a cold.

There are numerous measures on how we can effectively strengthen our immune system and prevent a cold:

Nutrition: Fresh and balanced foods with a lot of fiber, usually no dietary supplements are necessary, avoid nicotine and alcohol, drink enough water.

The most important hygiene measure to prevent a cold is still washing hands – preferably several times a day, sufficiently long, with warm water and soap. Disposable handkerchiefs should be disposed of immediately. So that fellow human beings do not get sick, one should avoid shaking hands or hugging over the duration of the cold. Even if it is difficult, you should always remember that a cold is contagious.

When it comes to sports, you shouldn't overdo it right away. Rather, our immune system is strengthened especially by exercise on a regular basis. Our circulation gets going and we can better prevent a cold. This effect can also be achieved with saunas, alternating showers or foot baths. The temperature change trains our heat regulation and our immune system. Sauna or sports with a cold, however, you should stay. Otherwise, one could delay the cold.

Despite all efforts to prevent a cold: If you have still caught an infection, a lot of rest and relaxation as well as enough stamina help. By the way, the saying "laughter is the best medicine" is no coincidence. With a little cheerfulness and confidence, the cold will soon be over.

1IQVIA Pharmatrend MAT08/2020

The answer to the question of how doctors, pharmacists and PTAs prevent colds is obvious in the truest sense of the word: For most experts, particularly frequent hand washing is part of the basics of prevention. A vitamin-rich diet and sufficient exercise are also very popular to fight annoying cold viruses. Only a small proportion of those surveyed are pessimistic and stated that a cold could not be prevented anyway.

150 doctors and 150 pharmacists/PTAs participated in the survey for the Grippostad cold facts¹:

¹_{Online survey of 150 general practitioners, 75 pharmacists and 75 pharmaceutical technical assistants, conducted by DocCheck, survey period 12.07.2018-19.07.2018}