Cozy season is here. But while the colder months have many positives (hot soup, movie nights, blankets, snuggly knitwear, and more), without doubt, they come with one big negative: cold and flu viruses are more common. Research suggests that, over the course of one year, Americans suffer through approximately 1 billion colds. And between 2010 and 2020, there were up to 41 million incidences of flu in the US, notes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Getting sick from a cold or the flu can happen anytime, but it’s more likely to happen in the winter. Research suggests this may be because the colder air actually damages the immune response in our noses. But it could also be because people spend more time together indoors in closer proximity, which allows viruses to pass more easily.
There is no way to guarantee you won’t end up with a sniffly nose, a sore throat, or…