Wrap yourself up properly. Your mum was right, being cold can cause some people to get a cold. While doctors previously dismissed this as hogwash, saying colds occurred simply due to viral transmission, a new study suggests the folklore has an element of truth.

A study conducted by the Common Cold Centre (CCC) in Cardiff chilled the feet of 90 people in cold water for 20 minutes. This group had twice as many colds over the next five days as a control group of 90 students whose feet weren't immersed.

So while the common cold is known to be transmitted virally, the CCC experiment suggests people who don't keep themselves warm in winter may be more likely to contract the virus.
Benefits of age

Did you know that as you get older, you contract fewer colds? This is because as you age, your immune system learns how to battle an increasing number of viruses. The human
body generates new antibodies each time it comes down with a cold, CCC director Professor Ron Eccles says.

Cover your nose

Most textbooks state that colds are more prevalent in colder weather because we tend to gather indoors in crowded, poorly ventilated rooms, Professor Eccles says.

‘But this theory does not really make sense as our cities are just
as crowded during summer,' he says.

‘A new theory is that our noses are colder during winter, and the cooling of the nose lowers resistance to infection. ‘Every time we breathe in we cool the nasal lining and weaken our local defences against infection. If this theory is correct, then covering our nose with a scarf in cold weather could help prevent colds.'

An alternative might be to head to sunnier climates in the peak of the cold season to ensure your nose stays nice and warm.

Know the signs

A dry, scratchy sore throat is often the initial sign that a cold
is on the way, due to the virus first infecting the back of the nose. Sneezing and a clear, watery nasal fluid are also early signs of infection.

‘A lot of people think they have the flu when they often just have a cold,' says Sydney GP, associate professor John Gullotta.

‘A good way to tell is head versus body. A cold will give you mostly head symptoms, but flu is more severe, and is more likely to have systemic all-over body symptoms, such as fever and muscle aches.'

To avoid flu, ask your doctor about a flu shot or, once symptoms start, flu anti-virals such as Relenza or Tamiflu can reduce the duration of the illness by several days, Dr Gullotta adds.

Wash your hands

Since cold viruses can be passed on by hand contact, or touching contaminated surfaces such as door handles, you can stop infection by hand-washing.

‘Studies show hand-washing can reduce the spread of common colds,' the CCC reports.

Dry them, though, as wet hands harbour bacteria.

Use your own pens

Try to avoid using other people's pens at work, and spray keyboards and phones regularly with antibacterial spray when the sniffles are doing the rounds.

Close your mouth

What about air droplet contamination? Always cover your mouth, and don't stand too close to people who are sneezing and coughing. ‘Remember the old saying, coughs and sneezes spread diseases,' Dr Gullotta says.

Medicate with pain relief

Painkillers, such as aspirin, paracetamol and ibuprofen, are very effective for headache, sinus pain, sore throats and muscle aches, and also for controlling your fever. Nasal sprays are more effective than oral decongestants for treating nasal congestion, according to the CCC.

‘Oral decongestants should be used with caution by patients with a history of heart disease or high blood pressure,' Dr Gullotta warns.

Do cough medicines work?

And what about cough medicines? ‘In general, cough medicines provide only around 15 per cent more benefit than placebos,' Professor Eccles says.

‘Relief can be obtained from the dry cough associated with the common cold with hot drinks and lozenges containing menthol and essential oils.'

And here in Australia, the federal government recently decided to ban the sale of over-the-counter cough medicines that are for children under the age of two, effective from next September. Cough medicines will only be available on prescription for these toddlers, following overseas reports of side effects, such as rapid heartbeat, insomnia, convulsions, and accidental overdoses.

Dr Gullotta says it's important for parents to carefully monitor their child's treatment for a cold to prevent doubling up on products that contain similar ingredients.

Give menthol a go

Menthol and essential oils may help you feel better when you're struggling with the nagging symptoms of a common cold.

‘Menthol causes a pronounced sensation of nasal clearness and coolness, but it doesn't open up the nose like a decongestant,' Professor Eccles says.

He suggests other natural solutions, such as spicy foods and hot soups, can calm inflamed throats. ‘Some research suggests zinc medications may also coat the common cold viruses, such as the rhinovirus, and prevent them from attaching to the nasal cells,' Professor Eccles says.