It's That Time of Year Again...

Along with back to school, baseball playoffs, football starting, fall in full swing...here comes something less fun, the dreaded cold and flu season. And the cost of the season is nothing to sneeze at - did you know that Americans spent $3.8 Billion on over the counter cold and flu remedies last year? Then factor in how much time and productivity was lost on sick-time in the workplace, money spent on co-pays for a doctors visit and prescriptions - it's a staggering amount of money, let alone the just plain miserable feeling we've all had at one time or another, when colds and flu arrive in our own home.

A few quick tips - some you may know, but a few might be surprises:

First, determine how susceptible you are by asking yourself a few questions. Were you ill several times last year? Do you frequently feel fatigued? Do you sleep less than seven hours per night? If you answer yes to several of the questions, it may be a good idea to consult your doctor for a pre-flu season check-up.

Build up your immune system by taking the time now to catch up on sleep and get a flu shot. Ever heard the old adage to "starve a fever and feed a cold"? While you don't need to go as far as actually starving, the idea is if you're hot from a fever, you need to put less fuel into your body to cool it down, and if you're cold from the chills, you need to eat to fuel your body and warm it up. Modern medicine may argue that adding a few supplements of medicine and continuing to eat would be the best alternative.

For the common cold, take a high dose combo of Vitamin C and Zinc. Taking these supplements has shown that these remedies can markedly reduce cold symptoms. For the flu, ask your doctor for a prescription of an antiviral drug. This could help shorten the duration of the flu and will have you back on your feet in no time. For preventative measures - try a product like Airborne, to help keep your immune system strong.

Here's a tip that's actually pretty enjoyable. Everybody loves a nice steam - but did you know it can help keep you well? That's right, sitting in a hot steam room can actually kill many germs that could make you sick. Experts say that those who enjoy a weekly steam reduce their chances of getting sick very dramatically. Some steam many times a day to break off cold symptoms.

Wash your hands frequently, and carry a hand sanitizer such as Purell with you to keep your hands germ free. Hand to mouth is the most common way that people get sick, so keep those hands clean, and encourage your family to do the same.

And here's a little known, interesting, yet highly effective idea...did you know you can literally "wash that cold right out of your nose"? Although it doesn't look pretty in action, a simple saline nasal wash or nasal irrigation can rid you of colds and allergies, by washing out the germs - and also healing and protecting your nasal passages. When dry winter air makes the tissues inside your sinuses dry and cracked, germs have a perfect place to live and breed - making you sick more easily. But a saline nasal wash, available at most drugstores, can lubricate, protect and clean those nasal tissues - and keep you well and healthy. And it may actually help reduce snoring!

At the end of the day - what's more important than your health? By taking a little time to protect yourself from illness, you ensure that you can continue to do all the other things in life that are important to you - spending time with family and friends, working hard at your career, and enjoying time living in a healthy body!