Colds, coughs and sneezes are in high season. But how long is the cold contagious? And when can you go back to work?
Your colleague sniffles, coughs and blows her nose all the time.
You are worried. After all, you have better things to do on the weekend than lie at home on the sofa between handkerchiefs.
Is your cold contagious? If so, how long should you be afraid of a cold infection?
Whether your colleague is better off staying home with her cold depends on whether her cold is contagious.
Table of contents
When the common cold is contagious
Did you know that you are already busy spreading viruses two days before your cold breaks out?
Scientists believe that even before the first real symptoms, you're a viral carrier.
So you don't even realize that in a few days you'll be sitting on the sofa sniffling and sneezing. But the viruses are trying to really flatten your body right now.
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So before you feel the full force of the cold, the cold viruses are already in your body. You don't notice much of it yet.
But still, your cold is contagious. But it is not yet so extreme.
Why the common cold is contagious, especially in the beginning
On the first three days when coughs, colds and the like have started, you should be careful. Give your colleague a wide berth if she is currently in this phase.
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Probably her nose will run all the time now. She has to sneeze and cough. In the process, she spreads the infection to everyone else. Because the secretion that she sprays is pumped full of viruses.
She transmits the cold viruses when she coughs, talks, sneezes or when she attacks the door handle with her hands. Beware of shaking hands. Better keep your hands off her :)
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Your most important step: strengthen the immune system. If you have a strong immune system, you won't catch a cold. Plenty of sleep, a healthy diet and exercise contribute to a strong immune system.
The most important vitamins for the immune system are vitamin C, B12, D3, K2. Together they are not only a good booster against colds, but also against fatigue and when you feel groggy.
How long a cold is contagious
Basically, it spreads its viruses now for about a week. Whereby the number and intensity decreases from day to day. How many viruses she spreads depends on the intensity of the cold.
The more severe their symptoms, the more likely their cold is contagious.
However, if you have a weakened immune system, your dear colleague can still infect you on the 7th or 8th day of her cold.
If your colleague has decided to take 1-2 days of bed rest, and then dutifully returns to work, she may be able to infect you.
Avoid shaking hands with her. Wash your hands several times a day and do not touch your face with your fingers.
Then you have a good chance of staying healthy, even if her cold is contagious.
How to prevent catching the common cold
To make sure you don't get caught, you can take a few precautions. However, that doesn't always have to work.
Whether the transmission of the common cold is possible depends very much on your immune system. The weaker it is, the higher the probability that you will catch a cold.
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You can do that as a precaution:
- Wash your hands thoroughly and regularly with soap. For at least 30 seconds.
- Avoid shaking hands as much as possible.
- Move a lot in the fresh air, which strengthens the immune system
- Eat a balanced diet. Especially a lot of vegetables and fruits.
- Avoid touching objects that are touched by many others. Such as bus bars in public transport, shopping carts or displays of vending machines. If there is no other way: Wash your hands immediately afterwards.
Inhale regularly, even if you don't have a cold. Doctors recommend inhaling at least 1x per week during the cold season.
Better and safer than holding your head over a pot of hot water is a Inhaler with built-in nasal irrigation*.
You can use it not only to treat stuffy noses, but also to do something for your body when you sneeze or cough.
The inhaler cleanses the respiratory tract and prevents bacteria and viruses from settling. If you have a cold, it reduces the swelling of the mucous membranes and supports the healing of the cold.
You are much more flexible than with a simple nasal douche and safer than with a pot full of hot water. The device is also suitable for children and has different attachments.
It's best to read the over 850 reviews for the Inhaler with built-in nasal irrigation* on Amazon. They are all very positive. Incidentally, the device is currently on offer!
Our conclusion
During the first two days, a cold is contagious - and really so. But even days before that, the infected person spreads lots of viruses.
Make sure to wash your hands regularly and well and, if possible, give yourself some time to rest to cure the cold.
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* Advertising & affiliate links: Our website is financed by advertising and affiliate links. As a partner of linked stores (e.g. Amazon) we earn from qualified sales.
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