Did you know that the common cold is the illness you will experience most frequently throughout your life? Here are two easy ways to prevent a cold, and, if you’re already coming down with one, reduce symptoms – twice weekly sauna bathing and regular exercise.
Researchers say that using a sauna at least twice a week speeds recovery from a cold, and it may cut the risk of catching one in half. Though scientists are uncertain as to how resting in a sauna helps, there’s a general consensus that dry heat may strengthen the immune system. People in a sauna are inhaling air with temperatures higher than 80 degrees, which is lethal to cold viruses. Sauna bathing also helps to improve breathing, because warm air helps to make air passages become less congested. (An important caveat – anyone with heart or circulatory problems should consult a health practitioner before using a sauna).
Another way to prevent a cold or to reduce the symptoms of one is to exercise five or more days a week. David C. Nieman, a professor at Appalachian State University, found that people who engage in moderate-to-vigorous exercise like swimming, biking, brisk walking, and playing in sports report nearly 50 percent fewer colds than people who have a sedentary lifestyle. His research also indicates people who exercise regularly have shorter colds with milder symptoms than people who are more sedentary. Nieman says aerobic exercise increases the number of virus-killing cells circulating in the body so that the body can better fight cold germs. (Be sure to consult with a health practitioner before starting an exercise program).
So next time you have a cold or you find yourself surrounded by people who are sniffling, sneezing, and coughing, give your body a boost by visiting the sauna or exercising!
Further reading:
Exercise May Help Beat the Common Cold
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