How can we help slow the disease down?

Apart from not smoking and breathing in heavily polluted air there are quite a few things that have been shown to help.

Chest infections

Repeated chest infections can do terrible damage to the lungs as infection causes extreme inflammation. Try to avoid places where you might be at risk of picking up a 'cold'.
Believe it or not colds are actually quite difficult to catch and more often or not a person becomes infected by touching some object or surface that the infected person has also touched.

Clumps of viral particles stick to nasal mucus and are transferred to the nose or eye by our hands. Just think about how often you touch your nose, or rub your eye!

Hand washing after being around someone with a cold is a good idea. As a man it is often difficult to avoid shaking hands but if you must, don't touch your face before you've washed your hands.

Should you worry about the person with a runny nose handing you change? Definitely.

I'm afraid that children pose a high risk of infection as not only do they have many, but they generally aren't too bothered about sneezing and coughing. Obviously those with grandchildren are going to have a hard time here, but it is worth "educating" friends not to come over if they think they may be coming down with something. Don't let them say, "oh, it's only a cold" as what is only a cold to them could put you in hospital and will take some more of your precious lung tissue.

If you do feel as if you are brewing something nasty then start on antibiotics and Prednisalone straight away. Don't wait for bronchitis to set in before you medicate. Most Doctors will give a supply of drugs to keep at home. ADAPT recommend two weeks of antibiotics and two weeks of 30mg/day of Prednisalone.

If you start to bring up "stuff" that looks dark brown or rust coloured go back to the Dr. ASAP.