The common cold is probably the most frequently occurring illness in humans worldwide. A cold is caused by a 'virus', which is usually spread by one person coughing or sneezing and another unlucky person breathing in the germs. Now you know why it's so important to cover your nose and mouth when sneezing! Children can have up to seven colds per year.
Cold, hard facts
- Damp, cold, or bad weather shouldn't increase the chances of getting a cold.
- The only way to get rid of a cold is for immune system to destroy the virus. This usually takes several days.
Will I get a cold?
Whether or not you get a cold after you're exposed to a virus depends on how ready your immune system is to fight infection. If you're too tired or haven't been eating a healthy diet, your immune system army might struggle to fight off germs.
Boost your immune system with exercise
Moderate exercise can boost the number of immune cells that circulate around the body, enabling you to fight infection more quickly and effectively. However, if you do too much exercise, the opposite happens and your immune system is weakened.
Guidelines for exercising and not getting sick
- Eat a healthy diet. Aim to eat two serves of fruit and five of vegetables every day.
- Get plenty of sleep! Poor sleep patterns also reduce the germ-fighting power of your immune system.
- Aim to be physically active for at least an hour a day.
Related reading:
Why exercise
Live a Long Life
