The secret to prevent getting a cold or the flu is “never touch your nose with your hands“. Read the comments for more details.
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December 7, 2013 by tmakashi
The secret to prevent getting a cold or the flu is “never touch your nose with your hands“. Read the comments for more details.
The Middle Way 
The secret to prevent getting a cold or the flu is “never touch your nose with your hands”. Colds and flus are caused by viruses. Viruses need a warm, moist, aerated environment to grow and the nose is ideal. When a person sneezes, has a runny nose, or their nose itches, they touch it, transferring viruses on their hands to their nose. It take 2 days for the virus to multiply, and a person gets a sore throat and becomes weak and achey. Colds and flus only last 1-2 days. Unfortunately, the virus changes the mucous lining, allowing bacterial infections. Secondary bacterial infections have the same symptoms (along w/ discolored phlegm and coughing), but they can last weeks or months.
Most people touch their noses unconsciously. In cold weather, people sneeze or their nose runs, so they touch their noses many times. This is why people get sick in cold weather. As “proof” that the hands are the problem, whenever a person visits a doctor, the first thing they usually do is wash their hands (to remove any bacteria or viruses that they pick up from other patients or common surfaces). As second “proof”, I used to be a high school teacher who got sick 3 times a year. After learning this and avoiding touching my nose, I get sick less than once a year.
A recent mysterious virus infected many in Colorado, and here is the latest info which also supports the above:
“There are no vaccines to prevent EV-D68 infections.
Patients can help protect themselves by washing their hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds, avoiding touching their eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands, kissing, hugging, sharing cups and eating utensils with sick people.
Disinfect frequently touched surfaces, such as toys and doorknobs, especially if someone is sick.”
Here’s an article which supports the above, mentioning not to touch eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands. http://myedmondsnews.com/2014/09/handwashing-encouraged-enterovirus-d-68-confirmed-two-seattle-childrens-patients/
This Washington Post short video is about how a face mask can help protect you from viruses. It mentions how a face mask helps prevent people from touching their nose with their hands (not sure how long the video will be available). https://wapo.st/2NY9Ylo
This article on “How to avoid getting sick on an airplane” mentions, “keep your hands microbe-free. “When you look at most infectious diseases, the overwhelming majority are transmitted when you touch a contaminated surface,” Gendreau says. “You grab the doorknob of the airplane bathroom and then touch your eyes, nose or mouth.”
“You always have to bring on board hand sanitizer,” he says, that’s at least 60% alcohol. “Before you eat or drink, sanitize your hands.” https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/02/13/804860215/how-not-to-get-sick-on-a-plane-a-guide-to-avoiding-pathogens