Teensy bit surprised by this thread. You my be interested to learn there is an excllent reference source available on the internet:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_cold
If you need any advice on how to identify a witch, turn base metal into gold, or raise the dead, pm me.
'Mrs Nose' is senior in the medical profession and has taught infection control for years - so I've had all this drummed into me, as have our kids...
Yes, sneezes and coughs can spread it. Nothing you can do about it as the places we suck the germs in are our 'wet bits' (my words, not hers - i forget the terminology) like your nose lining and eyes. If someone coughs at you, hold your breath and walk away - but don't forget to breathe once you have. Obvs.
However, hand washing is THE most effective way of stopping the spread. There's always some tw@t with a cold who sneezes or coughs into their hands, then opens the office door, sandwich or newspaper shop door, grabs a handle on the bus, and so on. You then grab said appendage, touch your nose, mouth, eyes - and bang... you're infected my sunshine.
My wife always washes her hands before eating in a restaurant or at home, after touching door handles, money and so on. Standard soap and water is actually more effective than hand gel (apparently) - but hand gel is always good.
For the record, she last got a cold in about 2013.
I measure how bad a cold is on my grumpiness scale. My eyes have started to itch, so I'll be going into my terse stage prior to being downright rude and obnoxious
