Stay healthy this season

A frequent occurrence during the winter season, other than snow and holidays, is a slightly less joyful experience: the common cold. Everyone is susceptible to this standard illness, so it is not much to worry about, but it can be an unpleasant and very inconvenient experience. Luckily, the common cold and other seasonal illnesses are fairly easy to avoid.

  "The common cold generally involves a runny nose, nasal congestion, and sneezing," says PubMed Health, a service provided by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) at the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM). "Colds are a part of life. They are usually harmless and get better on their own within a week. But symptoms like coughing, a sore throat or a headache can be bothersome."

  Living on a college campus can invite illnesses in because of a combination of different factors: living in dorm buildings with many other students, not getting the right nutrition, not sleeping enough, and walking in cold weather conditions without adequate clothing.

  "You can catch a cold if a person with a cold sneezes, coughs, or blows their nose near you or you touch your nose, eyes, or mouth after you have touched something contaminated by the virus, such as a toy or a doorknob," says PubMed Health. "People are most contagious for the first 2 to 3 days of a cold. A cold is usually not contagious after the first week."

  While catching these viruses might seem easy, it's also very easy to prevent them. When preventing a standard illness, the most important thing to remember when avoiding sickness is washing your hands.

  "Wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands," said Susan Mason, a retired registered nurse from Zanesville. "It's your best line of defense. The easiest way to do it."

  Among other common illnesses, the flu can also be vicious when accompanied by colder weather.

  "Get a flu shot," suggested Mason. "Use tissues and dispose of them properly. Wash your hands. When you cough, cover your cough. Don't share glasses, don't share drinks."

  Worries about more serious viruses can be soothed by the fact that there aren't many as prevalent as the common cold and the flu. The main focus should be on getting enough sleep, drinking water, avoiding those who might already be sick, and keeping your hands clean and away from your eyes, nose, or mouth.

  "In babies or older people the flu can be dangerous," said Mason. "It can turn into pneumonia but if you're relatively healthy the cold and the flu are the worst winter month things."