COLD AND FLU SEASON

Nobody enjoys being stuck in bed sneezing and coughing the days away. But there are steps you can take to increase your chances of avoiding these winter ailments

- By Holly McHugh

WHAT WE GET WRONG ABOUT

As the winter months draw in, so does the yearly wave of colds and flu, making now the perfect time to think about protecting yourself and others. You know the drill: wash your hands often, cover your coughs and sneezes, avoid touching your face, keep indoor spaces ventilated, stay home if you feel unwell and get a flu shot.

But beyond this familiar advice, there are also useful steps you can take that you might not know about. Here are the latest findings and lesser-known strategies to help get you and your family through the cold and flu season.

HUMIDITY IS KEY

It's common knowledge that ventilation is important to help stop the spread of cold and flu viruses. But what's often overlooked and plays an equally important role in how these viruses spread is humidity.

Research shows that flu viruses survive longer in dry air, which is why outbreaks often peak in winter when central heating dries out our homes and workplaces. Low humidity also makes the tiny droplets we exhale evaporate into even smaller particles. These can float in the air for longer and travel further, giving the virus more chances to spread.

Dry air also weakens the body's natural defences by drying out the protective mucus in our eyes, nose and throat. This makes it harder to trap and clear away germs, which not only increases the risk of infection, but also slows recovery time and makes symptoms like coughs, sore throats and congestion worse.

Evidence suggests that maintaining indoor humidity in the 'Goldilocks zone' of 40-60 per cent makes the environment less hospitable to viruses, while helping our airways stay moist and better able to fight off infections.