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It's important to have great health insurance but even the best plans available can do very little against the common cold. Esurance has put together a list of surefire tips for surviving the next cold season.

What is the common cold? This question dates back to the beginnings of civilization itself. The ancient Egyptians had hieroglyphics for the common cold, the 5th century Greek physician Hippocrates noted that the cold occurs more in the winter, and the Aztecs treated this ailment by mixing together chili pepper, honey, and tobacco.

But there's still no cure for the common cold. As the name suggests, it continues to afflict many of us each year.

As we all know by now, the common cold is a highly contagious respiratory illness typically involving a runny or stuffy nose, coughing, and a sore throat. Because a cold rarely becomes a serious health problem, we tend to regard it as an incurable nuisance.

So, how do you shake a cold? You've probably heard countless "tried and true" methods, including some conflicting techniques and others that are flat-out bizarre. To help keep you sniffle-free, we've compiled a list of proven ways to avoid, and beat, the common cold.

Prevention
As you probably know, healthy habits strengthen your immune system. Do your best to get enough sleep and exercise, and try to stay hydrated and eat nutritious foods. Managing your stress well can also help your body stay healthy.

If someone around you has a cold, keep your distance. Colds can be spread through the air by coughing and sneezing, or by coming in contact with an infected person, either directly or via a contaminated surface.

People are contagious the day before they experience symptoms and about 5 days after. To keep even the unsuspected person's germs away, wash your hands regularly with soap and warm water and refrain from touching your face.

Another alternative is alcohol-based hand sanitizers, which are as effective as hand washing according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, anti-bacterial soaps have no added benefit since colds are viral.

Finally, go outside more! Though many of us think colder temperatures are the culprit, it's actually staying inside with central heating that dries you out and makes your body more vulnerable to cold and flu viruses. Just remember to dress warmly when embracing the great outdoors!

Treatment
So you've come down with a cold. Don't be too hard on yourself. It's estimated that adults have, on average, 2-4 colds a year and children as many as 6-10.

Though there's no cure, get relief by taking good care of yourself and treating the symptoms as best you can:

• Take care of yourself. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases recommends getting plenty of rest, drinking fluids, gargling with warm salt water, and using cough drops, throat sprays, or over-the-counter pain or cold medicines.
• Weigh the side effects. If you're thinking about taking an over-the counter medicine to alleviate your symptoms, check the side effects first before deciding they're worth it.
• Avoid certain drinks. Refrain from beverages containing caffeine or alcohol since they cause dehydration and can make you feel worse when fighting a cold.
• Consider alternatives. Zinc gluconate and megadoses of Vitamin C, along with warm chicken soup, saunas, and steam rooms, reputedly do wonders, though studies are inconclusive and relief may only be temporary.
• Don't spread the germs. Cover your mouth or nose with a tissue (or even your sleeve) when you cough or sneeze so you don't spread germs through the air or from hand contact.

Colds usually take anywhere from several days to two weeks to leave your system. However, if your cold lingers or gets worse, consult a physician. You may have the flu or a bacterial infection.

At Esurance, we know how important it is have health insurance coverage that you can depend on. That's why we've partnered with eHealthInsurance, a leading online source for individual and family health insurance. Get your free quotes online today. You can compare plans side-by-side and get the best prices available.