It'snot just a cold..

Started to feel puny today at work, then started sneezing, then developed a sinus headache, then got a runny nose...I think I officially have a cold. As I sit here, blowing my nose, I'm wondering about cold facts. So, I looked up the American Lung Association and here is what I found:

• Colds are minor infections of the nose and throat caused by several different viruses.
• A cold may last for about one week, but some colds last longer, especially in children, elderly people, and those in poor health.
• In the United States, colds account for more visits to the doctor than any other condition.
• Adults get an average of two to four colds per year, mostly between September and May.
• Young children suffer from an average of six to eight colds per year.
• Colds are highly contagious. They most often spread when droplets of fluid that contain a cold virus are transferred by touch. These droplets may also be inhaled.

Between one and three days after a cold virus enters the body, symptoms start developing, such as:

• runny nose
• congestion
• sneezing
• weakened senses of taste and smell
• scratchy throat
• cough

Infants and young children are more likely than adults and teens to develop a fever. Smokers usually have more severe symptoms than non-smokers.

Colds are extremely difficult to prevent entirely. The following suggestions may help:

• Avoid close contact with people who have a cold, especially during the first few days when they are most likely to spread the infection.
• Wash hands after touching someone who has a cold, after touching an object they have touched, and after blowing ones nose. If a child has a cold, wash his or her toys after play.
• Keep fingers away from ones nose and eyes to avoid infecting oneself with cold virus particles that may have been picked up.
• Put up a second hand towel in the bathroom for healthy people to use.
• Keep an eye on the humidity of one's environment so that sinuses do not dry out.

Do not inflict one's cold on others! Cover ones nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, then throw the tissue away and wash hands. Also, stay away from people who are most vulnerable, including anyone who has asthma or another chronic lung disease, or at least try to limit close contact.

Until recently, it was thought that a single vaccine could not be developed for the different cold viruses. New research approaches may enable the development of a single vaccine for most types of colds.

I bet I could find something here at onlineauction.com to help...

A Boo-boo bag to chill and put on my forehead from American-Hippie!

Wish I HAD some Mucinex right now! You can get these darling little fellas from curiocache!

(FYI..the human body produces 1-1.5 liters of mucus a day)

Probably should have thought ahead and gotten these from ukywyldcat

This could be very handy in preventing the NEXT cold! Get it from plusizeglamor

Should have read these FIRST! You can get them from curiocache.

Lots more great things to help you stay healthy at onlineauction.com!