by Susan Z. Miller

Created on: October 29, 2009   Last Updated: November 26, 2009

According to Medicinenet.com, the average adult battles seven colds per year. So what are the secrets of those who instead get only one cold every seven years? Here are the top five practical and easy-to-follow tips to help any individual stay healthy during the winter cold and flu season.

(1) Become a frequent hand washer.

This is the most important thing one can do in order to drastically cut down on the chance of illness. A great number of sources, including a report in

H2U News, emphasize that hand washing is the number one most important way to prevent the spread of colds and the flu.

While antibacterial soaps are popular, their usage is not essential to remove germs from hands. It is the actual rubbing and lathering motion that removes viruses and bacteria, not the soap itself. It is important to scrub thoroughly, making sure to cleanse underneath the fingernails and between the fingers. Cleansing should last about 20 seconds. For children, a helpful tip is to instruct them to sing the Happy Birthday song twice through while lathering. Once the washing process is complete, dry your hands with a disposable paper towel or air drying device. Avoid drying your hands on a damp towel, as these tend to breed bacteria. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers should be used only in the case that a sink is unavailable.

(2) Touch discriminately.

After all of that thorough hand washing, be very careful about what you touch. Try to avoid coming in direct contact with frequently touched surfaces such as public doorknobs, since germs can live on these surfaces for hours. In his High Tech Dad Blog, Michael Sheehan suggests covering your hand with your sleeve when gripping a doorknob and teaching your kids to do the same. Bring your own pen to the doctor's office and pharmacy, and use your elbow to push or pull the door open. All individuals should also take care not to touch their eyes, nose, and mouth, especially during tasks such as public transportation and grocery shopping. These are, quite simply, the gateways to the body for viruses.

(3) Exercise outdoors.

It is a common myth that being outside in the cold weather can cause one to catch the cold virus. In actuality, one is a lot more likely to catch a cold while indoors and surrounded by sick people and canned air. Chilly weather may exacerbate the symptoms of one who already has a cold, but it will not cause one to become ill.

In actuality, bundling up and getting some exercise outdoors is a great way to help prevent illness.

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