how to avoid colds?

SO1 · #1 18th Nov 2007, 01:40 PM

Prior to the last six weeks there was about 3 times in 4 years when I was unable to get to the yard as I was ill.

Lately I seem to have had one cold after another and today I am at home in bed rather than at the yard with earache, bodyache and generally feeling rubbish. It's horrible cold wet windy weather so thought i would be better off resting and trying to shake the cold off rather than getting cold and wet

It's so frustrating and depressing. I have a youngster and try and think positive and about all the years I can spend with him once I am better. I know its slightly off topic but does anyone have any tips to avoid getting colds and how do you cope when you are ill and need to look after your horse. Luckily my pony lives out and I am liveried at a riding school who offer the whole range of extras including riding if need be so they can look after him if I can't.

a+e · #2 18th Nov 2007, 01:44 PM

Sorry to hear youve been under the weather lately...
But i think you very lucky to have the choice of help if you need it.
I dont have ANYONE to help me do anything if im ill, so i just Have to get on with it and do it myself

Hope you feel better soon

SO1 · #3 18th Nov 2007, 02:07 PM

When I lived at home it was easy as family could help but now I am at livery I specifically chose a yard with lots of help just in case something happens to me so I know my pony will always be cared for cos I am single and family whilst horsey dont live near by!

It is more expensive than the other local diy yards and a bit hectic at times being a busy riding school and I am the only adult livery but worth it for piece of mind.

Pony prob loves it when I am ill as he can be in field with friends playing and eating being a horse all the time so my loss is his gain!

domane · #4 18th Nov 2007, 02:17 PM

This is going to sound as boring as hell but make sure you eat lots of fresh fruit and vegetables. Make sure you get enough sleep and wrap up warmly when you DO go out in cold weather.

Also, take an echinacea supplement for a few weeks - it's good for boosting your immune system and it sounds like yours is compromised just at the moment.

horsesforever · #5 18th Nov 2007, 02:19 PM

I take Vitamin C everyday. Supposed to boost the immune system. And like Domane said, make sure you look after yourself and eat well.

Mehitabel · #6 18th Nov 2007, 02:20 PM

echo domane - what is your diet like? echinacea, zinc and vitamin c all boost your immune system. as domane says, don;t ake echinacea for ages, use it as a short-term booster, but the vit c and zinc are good too.

SO1 · #7 18th Nov 2007, 02:35 PM

I was taking echinacea but had to stop as it said on the packet you need to take a break for a few weeks perhaps that is why I now have colds. I think I am going to start taking it again i think i can take it for 8 weeks at a time and zinc sounds like it is a good idea. I think once I got the first cold then I got weak and more prone to the others. There are always loads of sick people at my work too to catch bugs from but prior to this last few weeks I have not had too many colds.

I managed to hack out yesterday at a very sedate pace and hopefully a day in bed will nip it in the bud.

SO1 · #8 19th Nov 2007, 01:46 PM

here is a link about cold feet and colds

http://www.medpagetoday.com/Pulmonar...heFlu/tb2/2136

Mehitabel · #9 19th Nov 2007, 01:50 PM

good thing i've got fat socks on then!

i am starting a cold today - went and got some of that first defence spray stuff, so hopefully that will work.

Daffy Dilly · #10 19th Nov 2007, 05:37 PM

Drink more water than your horse.

Seriously, everybody else in the house came down with a very nasty virus that couldn't be shifted with all the cold and flu remedies in the pharmacy, I felt the first symptom coming on, drank about 10litres of water in 24 hours and was right as rain the next day.

chunky monkey · #11 19th Nov 2007, 06:22 PM

The bugs have been going round and when the rest of my family got colds I didn't. I put it down to the tablets I was taking. I normally do not believe in taking pills and potions, but in the last 4 months I have become a bit more health consious. (I did only say a bit more health consious, I won't highlight the rest of the faults). They reckon the vitamins are good though.

The only thing that I have had on and off for several months is a sore throat.

I took some zinc and vit c combined tabs for a couple of months, mainly cos they reckon if you have white bits on your nails its a lack of zinc in the diet. I have had white bits on my nails for at least the last five years. The marks start off small and by the time they have grown to the tips the white area has got larger. Well I took them for 2 months and I know it takes time to rectify dificiencies but the white nails never went away. So I stopped taking them.

I then went on a vitamin and iron suppliment. Cant said I have felt any benefit from those. Although that was the time when everyone in the house got colds and I didn't.

So I have now changed to taking cod liver oil tabs. Plus st johns wort which is meant to be a pick you up from feeling low. My job has been so pressured of late that it was really getting me down and with all the rubbish that is coming out now, I am so happy to be looking for another job right now. I can't say that the st johns wort has picked me up but something is keeping me going.

Crazyhorse · #12 19th Nov 2007, 06:38 PM

The biggest thing I can suggest is do not touch your face in any way with your hands. Cold germs are spread far easier this way by rubbing eyes or ears then someone coughing or sneezing near you. All someone who is ill has to do is cough on their hands then touch a door handle to pass on. I used to always do it and picked up loads. I use Vicks First Defence spray and also the hand gel, as it protects for hours. If you work in an office try not to use a phone that an ill person has used. That and all the other bits mentioned above!