Keeping colds from catching you.

I don't know about you, but it seems like I get two colds a year--one in the summer and one in the winter. You can almost set your calendar by it. And I don't know which one is more miserable. During 2002 I think my winter cold was worse, because I came down with it during an important business trip. Not only was it hard to focus on my work, but it's always a pain to be sick away from home.

But summer colds are never any fun either. It's just not fair to have to feel miserable when the weather is beautiful. And my summer colds always fool me too. Every year I think I'm having an allergy problem. But then suddenly the symptoms erupt into a full-blown head cold. And for a week or so I'm miserable again.

As I was recovering from this year's summer cold, I realized that I've endured two lousy weeks every year for 48 years. And I'm beginning to wonder if there's anything I can do to avoid this semiannual sneeze-fest. Autumn is approaching, and I do have some business trips planned over the next few months. And I'd like to avoid that upcoming winter cold if at all possible, especially while I'm on the road. So I've done a little research, and this is what I'm going to try during the coming cold season.

Wash, Wash, Wash. Cold germs are everywhere. You can pick them up from handrails and armrests, public bathroom surfaces, even shopping cart handles in your favorite grocery store. And once you get a cold bug on your skin, just a quick rub of your eyes or a scratch of your nose can lead to an urgent need for tissues. Researchers suggest that you get almost fanatic about washing your hands--up to seven times a day. Studies show that the more often you wash your hands, the less likely you are to get sick.

Stop Smoking. Well, this one is easy for me. Never started and never will. But if you're a heavy smoker, you're about twice as likely to get a cold.

Exercise. Do you make the effort to get in a brisk walk at least five times a week? Research shows that formerly sedentary women who started a regular walking program cut in half the number of days they were sick with colds. This is one area I need to pay more attention to.

Zinc Lozenges. It won't keep you from getting a cold. But studies are showing that people who start sucking on zinc gluconate lozenges at the first sign of a cold are sick from one to three fewer days than people who don't. And other studies show that volunteers who used zinc acetate lozenges as soon as they got sick felt better up to three days sooner. I haven't tried these products before, but I've seen enough to give these lozenges a test this year.

And if you're unable to fight off a cold during the next few months, at least take some steps to keep from spreading it. As my wise mom always reminded me: "Cover your mouth when you sneeze!"