Weathering the cold and flu season

Surviving the cold and flu season is as much about prevention as it is about the cure.

Some good tips on surviving the flu season without too much pain.

It doesn't matter where you live in Australia - from hot, steamy Darwin to the breathtakingly cold Hobart - it's almost impossible to escape catching a cold or flu during the winter months. The old saying, "prevention is better than the cure" is paramount to everything we do in life, so here are a few tips on staying healthy when everyone around you is succumbing to the dreaded lurgy!

Be good to yourself

Unfortunately in this era of scientific miracles, we have still not found a cure for the common cold. The bottom line is that the cold is simply a viral illness. They generally hit us when we're not looking after ourselves and our immune system is not functioning at its optimum. Therefore, the best preventative medicine for the cold and any other virus is quite simple, eat well, get plenty of rest and exercise regularly. Sounds simple, but for many Australians who pack their lives so full, these things are more often the exception rather than the rule. The cure for the cold is also simple… stay in bed, keep warm and drink plenty of fluids. There are hundreds of drugs that can reduce our suffering, but if we listen to our mothers' advice and just rest, we can probably save ourselves a lot of money and recover more quickly.

Let's go back to the prevention

If you don't have a healthy lifestyle and it's "all too hard", you could consider taking supplements to make up for the vitamins and minerals lacking in your diet. As winter approaches, start building up your immune system with supplements such as Vitamin C, Zinc, Echinacea, and Garlic (tablets make sure you don't lose friends!). Be aware that even natural remedies may affect any prescription drugs you might be taking, so before you start taking anything new, always check first with your health professional.

When all else fails

There are lots of other options available ranging from getting a 'flu shot (if you're extremely susceptible) through to homoeopathy… it all depends on what you're most comfortable with. Whatever you believe in will work for you, but if all else fails and you find yourself with the sniffles and feeling miserable on a cold, rainy day, think of yourself first, call the office and crawl back into bed. It may not be an easy decision to make, but everyone else will thank you for keeping your bug to yourself.

Important note

The information in this article does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Therefore, before acting on the information, you should consider its appropriateness to your personal circumstances. Although this information was obtained from sources considered to be reliable, it is not guaranteed to be accurate or complete. This publication was prepared by AMP Financial Planning Pty Limited ABN 89 051208327. The information is current as at 15 May 2008 and may change over time.