This is very pertinent to me. Because as I write this, I actually have a cold. And yes, I’m going skiing.
So I thought I’d post about — what else — skiing with a cold. Because when you have a ski day planned, sometimes you just gotta go.
Before I get started, I need to put out a very big disclaimer: I am not a physician (shocker, I know). I don’t know anything at all about health, wellness, or medicine. So please please please, keep that in mind when you read this.
That said, the best thing you can do about skiing with a cold is pretty basic: don’t get one in the first place. As they say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. SO, with that in mind, here are a few ways to stay healthy:
First, if you have any small children, get rid of them. The sooner the better. Kids are nature’s germ factories. Everyone I know who has contact with kids gets sick all the time. So if you have kids, offload them. Now. You didn’t really want them around anyway, right?
And second, don’t touch anything or go anywhere. At all. Complete isolation is the only way to avoid getting a cold. This is very, very important. You must keep away from everyone: spouses, significant others, parents, children, friends, co-workers, anyone who breathes. And keep your hands off everything. Bannisters, elevator buttons, shopping carts, door knobs, all objects that any human being touches. This is the only sure fire way to avoid cold-causing germs.
Obviously, I’m kidding here. Neither of these is at all practical. But there are a few common sense things you can do to at least minimize your chances of getting a cold. Like wash your hands. A lot. I don’t want to be OCD about it, but as I’ve gotten older, I’ve become a bit of a germaphobe. For example, I keep Purel in my car and use it to clean my hands after I pump my own gas (God knows what lives on those gas dispensers). Another good preventive measure: Do what you can to improve your immune system. Take vitamins. Exercise. Eat right. You know, all the things you should be doing, anyway.
So despite all this, you still get a cold. Hey, it happens. Well, here’s the easy answer: if you feel really lousy, don’t go skiing. It won’t be fun, and after all, that’s what skiing is all about. If you can swing it, just take a few runs and call it a day. This falls under what I like to call the “Don’t Be An Idiot” rule, which is pretty much my rule for life. If it’s something to which someone you trust would say, “Don’t be an idiot,” then don’t do it. For example, if you’re hacking and coughing and you can’t breathe, if you’re running a fever or you’re too exhausted to move, don’t be an idiot. Don’t go skiing. But if you have a cold that can be easily controlled with a dose of Tylenol, Sudafed, hot tea with honey, or chicken soup, and if you can deal with tamping it down a notch and maybe making it a short ski day, then go ahead. Go. Let your body be your guide.
I’m heading out now. It may not be the longest ski day, or even the most intense, but I’ll stick it out for as long as I can. Because after all, it’s skiing. The season is short. And sometimes you just gotta go.
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