With two major holidays just weeks away, you know what you can expect—friends shaking hands, children running around your Stark County, Ohio home, and a big kiss on the cheek from that aunt you haven’t seen for years. Sure, it’s wonderful to spend time with your loved ones and have everyone together for the holiday festivities. The problem with being around so many people is the risk for the common cold. And with so much on your plate already, you really can’t afford to get sick now! Fortunately for you, Allergy Respiratory & Sleep Medicine offers some helpful tips on how to stay cold-free this holiday season. This Canton, Ohio office knows all about how to prevent a cold, as well as the general lifespan of respiratory viruses. By taking this information into account, you can still have a great time at your North Canton, Ohio gathering while avoiding the sneezing, aching aftermath.

First things first—go ahead and wash your hands. Making sure your hands are clean is just a good rule of hygiene. But that won’t necessarily prevent a cold. You can wash, disinfect and sterilize everything someone touches, but research experiments show that cold germs don’t live long outside the body. What you really need to worry about is interacting with other people—the main risk for the common cold.

Allergy Respiratory & Sleep Medicine in Canton suggests a “four day rule” for those who want to stay cold-free this holiday season. If you notice someone at your North Canton gathering is looking a little under the weather, you may want to stay clear. It’s been suggested that the lifespan of respiratory viruses is about four days. That means four days from the time a person contracts a virus, their immune system will kick in and begin to fight it. If you can’t avoid that person (that aunt can be pretty persistent) then you may want to ask them how long they’ve been feeling sick. If it’s been two weeks, it’s probably safe to talk to them. While respiratory viruses are spread through water droplets in the air a person exhales, after two weeks the individual is no longer contagious. What they’re currently dealing with is just remaining symptoms from the cold.

If you’re in a place with people who have only had the cold for a day or two, Allergy Respiratory & Sleep Medicine suggests that you stay roughly four feet away them. Stuck in a confined space? Well, this Stark County facility says that wearing a mask helps, but you’ll probably get quite a few strange looks if you start offering masks to people…

The best way to prevent a cold is to steer clear of those who are infected. This may seem like just plain common sense, but it really is the best way to stay cold-free this season. So if you notice anyone at your North Canton, Ohio gathering that is sniffling, sneezing and looking generally miserable, think about the lifespan of respiratory viruses and step back four feet or head the other direction. Your aunt may be a little disappointed, but you really don’t want the risk of the common cold, do you? For more information on how to avoid getting infected by the cold this holiday season, give Allergy Respiratory & Sleep Medicine a call at 330.479.3333 or visit www.allergyrespiratorycenter.com. Even if you’re feeling a little under the weather yourself, this Stark County, Ohio office may be able to help. Just schedule an appointment before heading over to their office in Canton, Ohio.