Cold Moment

Here is the second installment of the 'cold demything' series.

We have all heard and believe the wash your hands exhortation! But do we do it?

Dr. Michael Macknin of Children's Hospital in Ohio says, "Hand washing is the single most effective way to stop the spread of colds". Viruses are carried by your hands to the things you touch, including your body parts. When you touch objects others have touched, you will carry their viruses to yourself when you rub your eyes, touch your nose or put food in your mouth. Washing your hands 'short circuits' that 'virus transportation system'.

What about antibacterial soaps? A study of 238 households, done at Columbia University, found there was no difference beteen the families which used plain soap versus those which used antibacterial. My beef is that it is difficult to find soaps which are not antibacterial. I went back to bar soap when I was unable to find a plain soft soap, and according to Columbia, rubbing your hands together under a stream of water does much of the job anyway.