5 Ways to Avoid a Summer Cold

When you think about catching a cold, your mind might go to winter. After all, the name “cold” implies a chilly time of year. But this kind of illness isn’t confined to just one part of the year. You can absolutely get a cold during the summertime.

We don’t want to let this kind of sickness derail your warm-weather fun. Fuad Alykhan, MD, and our team developed this guide to help you avoid a summer cold.

If you do get the summertime sniffles, see us at Loudoun Walk-In Medical Center in Ashburn, Virginia. Dr. Alykhan offers same-day care for colds. 

To help you avoid a trip to our office, you can use these tips. 

Wash your hands whenever you can

Although a summer cold often comes from a different virus (enterovirus) than winter colds (rhinovirus), it’s transmitted in the same way. If you come into contact with this virus and it gets into your system, you can get sick.

Hand washing gives you an excellent line of defense. Cleaning your hands thoroughly helps wash away viruses before they can invade your body. 

Don’t touch your face

In a similar vein, don’t give enterovirus an easy pathway into your body. Avoid touching your face — and especially your nose and eyes — throughout your day. This is particularly important when you’re out in public spaces where you’re interacting with lots of people and touching shared surfaces. 

Sanitize surfaces you touch a lot

Speaking of surfaces, make it a point to sanitize anything with which you come into regular contact. Your phone is a key possible point of transmission. Companies make disinfectant wipes that are safe for electronics.

Other important areas to clean include:

• Countertops
• Doorknobs
• Faucet handles
• Keyboards
• Remotes
• Steering wheels

Having wipes handy makes this to-do quick and easy. 

Get enough sleep

A lack of sleep compromises your immune system, making you more susceptible to the summer sniffles. Multiple studies have shown that not getting quality rest increases your risk of picking up a cold. Plus, being poorly rested probably means it will take you longer to get better. 

Don’t share anything that could spread the virus

If someone’s bodily fluids come into contact with an item, that item can become a passageway for sickness. Don’t share cups, utensils, or towels, even with people in your household. That way, if one of you gets a summer cold, you have a lower likelihood of everyone catching it. 

If you wind up with a runny nose, cough, headache, or any other cold symptoms this summer, see us. You can call our office to schedule an appointment or simply walk in today. Getting care fast can help you recover more quickly so you can get back to your summer plans.