Cold and Flu Prevention: Nothing to Sneeze At

Once again, it is cold and flu season. The most common-sense preventive measure is handwashing. The effectiveness of this simple step has been proven for almost 200 years, ever since pioneering British surgeon Dr. Joseph Lister demonstrated that washing your hands with an antiseptic dramatically cut down on surgical infections. Simple soap and water does the trick but I also like alcohol gels, as they work more rapidly and wipe out a larger percentage of viruses and bacteria.

Another preventive measure is daily gargling with salt water throughout the winter. People who gargle up to three times a day show a 40 percent decrease in respiratory illnesses and symptoms. Gargling also helps loosen up mucus and alleviate the pain and swelling that accompanies sore throats.

Vitamin D supplementation can help prevent colds and flus for all ages. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a daily dose of 400 IU year-round for children. Studies show that school-aged kids who took a higher dose of vitamin D during flu season had a 42 percent decrease in influenza infections. In Beijing, I also recommend vitamin D for adults because air pollution cuts down on the amount of sunlight that reaches our skin.

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