How to prevent upper respiratory infections ?

I stayed home from work today with what feels like the beginning of an upper respiratory infection. I used to get them a lot as a child, but then for probably 20 years I almost never got them. Now in the last couple of years, I seem to get two or three every year. I know how to avoid colds....washing my hands a lot, not touching my face, get lots of vitamin C, etc. But is there a way to keep from getting these darned infections?? (By the way....any advice for helping get rid of one besides antibiotics would be great, too!)

Im in the same boat as you. I was put on inhalers during the winter/sping and fall months to help with the tightness in my chest and to help break up the congestion but I was never told of any remedies that I can continue through the season to help with the constant congestion etc. Antibiotics like the Z-pak are available but studies have shown that frequent use of hte meds can build up an immunity to them causeing them to not take effect after time. So Im out for using them now.

I take an otc med called Airborne. The stuff developed by the 2nd grade teacher who was tired of catching all the kooties from kids why she was working and I take it religiously every day. Sometimes even twice a day. I swear by it now. I developed a little cold 3 days before I was supposed ot be in a wedding and just by taking that stuff it didnt escalte past a runny nose for 1 day. Usually I wind up with all sorts of things. M<aybe it will work for you.

Good Luck

It sounds like you are already doing all the right things like the hand washing, ect. One more thing to realize is that the pathogens are frequently passed in respiratory droplets, this is the mist given off when someone wiith an infection coughs and sprays say a virus in your direction. This can be limited by that person covering their mouths, or you avoiding anyone with such an infection. Another thing is airtravel, if you fly the air quality on an airplane is awful and cannot be avoided if you fly. And continue to do the good nutrition thing to keep a healthy immune system.

I do not think there is a way to prevent one of those but i feel bad for you i had that and my doc gave me a Zpac antibiotic and it took it well over 3 weeks to get rid of all of it. I was out of work for a full week. I would defiantely go to the doc and get some meds the faster you start treating it the faster you get rid of it.

Cold-Eeze lozenges are very helpful if started right away at the 1st hint of a scratchy throat. Vitamin C 500 mg every 2-3 hours till diarrhea occurs (Then cut back - 1-2 pills less than the dose it required to loosen you up is your Vitamin C requirement for this infection episode). Echinacea and Goldenseal are good for colds. Sinupret and Esberitox are highly recommended by naturopaths for symptom relief and immune support. drink lots of water and get as much rest as possible. Good luck!