You're listening to shortwave from NPR.

Maddie's Sophia here with NPR health correspondent Alison Aubrey Hey Alison.

Hey Maddie.

So we are right in the middle of cold and flu season and Alison as our consumer health

aficionado.

Uh-huh.

Let's start with talking about how to reduce the likelihood of getting a cold.

Okay.

There's our shortwave favorite which is washing your hands of course.

Sure.

And you know Maddie not everybody who gets exposed to a cold actually gets sick.

So when they've done these studies where they take a rino virus and they stick it up

people's noses and they see who gets sick and who doesn't they find that people who've

slept less than six hours are about twice as likely to get sick when exposed to this cold

virus as compared to people who've slept more.

So sleep is really important.

High stress has been shown to increase the likelihood and a lack of exercise has also

been shown to make you more susceptible.

I feel like you just targeted me with the high stress.

Stop now.

Stop, stop, stop.

And I am not here to wag my finger at you or anyone else because at a certain point

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