There is nothing worse than sitting in class and everyone around you sneezing and coughing.  Cold and flu season is back in full force.

What is cold? A common cold, according to the Brown College is “an inflammation of the upper respiratory tract most often caused by one of the more than 100 types of rhinovirus.”

In medical terminology, “rhino” means nose.

Colds typically last a few days, but it is not uncommon for a cold to last up to two weeks. Colds are not to be confused with the flu. Flu is caused by an influenza virus and comes with a high fever among other severe symptoms.  You will not have a high fever with a cold.

Symptoms for a cold include runny or stuffed up nose, head and body aches, cough, watery eyes, and postnasal drip.

It is important to take care of yourself when you have a cold, because they occasionally lead to bacterial infections.

Stick to the basics if you have a cold. Drink at least 10 glasses of water a day to stay hydrated and flush out your body of toxins. Stop or cut back on smoking. Use cough drops and breath in humidified air.

Get plenty of Vitamin C and sleep, and take an over-the-counter remedy for sinus congestion and postnasal drip. Hot lemon and honey is good for a sore thoat, as is hot tea with honey.

To avoid getting the common cold, wash your hands often with warm water and soap. Do not put your hands on your face or in your mouth, and avoid sharing food and beverages with people who are sick.

Next time you see the person down the hall, or the lady to your left sneezing up a storm, remember it’s that time of year.