How to stay cold free during the festive season

My body seems to alert me to the arrival of winter long before I've had the chance to check the calendar, by welcoming me to the festive season with a runny nose and sore throat.

One way to ensure you stay in peak health throughout this time is to get the flu jab.

Reserved for people in at-risk categories, such as the over-65s, pregnant women, or those with medical conditions such as asthma or diabetes, if you are eligible to have one I certainly recommend it.

Associate medical director of the British Heart Foundation, Dr Mike Knapton claims that if you're a heart patient then it is especially essential that you go get your free flu jab.

You can get it at your GP surgery and it shouldn't take too long either, meaning you can go about your day afterwards, safe in the knowledge that you can fight off any nasty flu viruses going round.

Defining the difference between cold and flu, Dr Knapton said that the symptoms of a cold can include a runny nose, headache and sore throat, but these are likely to improve after a few days of rest.

But, on the other hand, flu can be far more debilitating.

It results in weakness and possibly cold symptoms, plus muscle ache and pain, fever, migraines and a cough.

Some flu strands can then develop into pneumonia or bronchitis, making them all the more serious.

Risks for heart patients can be greater than the general population, Dr Knapton also warned.

Other ways to ward off illness include eating well, keeping active and getting a good night's sleep as often as possible.

This doesn't mean heading down the gym every day but a brisk winter's walk two or three times a week while wrapped up warm always does me the world of good.

How do you ward off a cold in winter?

Posted by Margo Hunter