By Meghan Streit
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

Health care is a major concern for everyone, but for older adults, access to high quality doctors and treatments is especially important.

For residents at Sedgebrook, top-quality health care is always available thanks to the on-site physician, wellness staff, and emergency response team.

Together, Sedgebrook’s health care team goes above and beyond to make  sure the people who live at Sedgebrook have access to the information they need to keep healthy. On-site physician Dr. Elliott Kroger recently spent the afternoon talking with a group of about 50 residents about the myths and facts surrounding the common cold.

Myths and facts
Winter inevitably increases the risk of catching a cold, which can range from mildly irritating to completely debilitating. But knowing the facts about how to prevent and treat a cold can go a long way in keeping older adults in good health.

Kroger says the cold virus can live on objects like doorknobs and telephones for several hours, which is why it’s especially important to wash hands frequently during the cold season.

“In fact, the cold virus can even live on human skin for two hours,” Kroger says.

There are a dizzying array of remedies for the common  cold on the market, which makes it hard to choose the right one. Kroger gave residents some inside information to help them get through the winter season without catching a cold—or at least to get over it as quickly as possible.

Echinacea and high doses of vitamin C, both popularly believed to prevent  colds, have not been proven to have a significant impact in clinical studies, Kroger says.

Zinc can help
In contrast, zinc, which is found in products like Cold- Ez, has been shown to alleviate symptoms and speed recovery.