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Wow, TA is the worst place on the planet for medical advice.
Vitamin C is believed by many to help improve immunity to colds and other viruses, but it has never been scientifically proven.
Echinacea is a placebo. Period. Worse, a lot of people are mildly allergic, so it can actually make your symptoms more severe.
Multivitamins (if you don't eat healthy, which most people don't) and regular exercise will both help to boost your overall immune system. Persistent stress and exposure to cold weather both hinder it. All of these things may affect how likely you are to get sick but none of them will actually cause or prevent illness.
The best way to prevent an infection is to wash your hands. But viruses (colds and flu) are NOT bacteria, so don't bother with the antibacterial soap, it is the mechanical action of hand-washing that kills them or just removes them from your skin. Purell is not a substitute.
Finally, the main reason people get sicker in the winter is that constantly moving in and out of doors causes everyone to cough and their noses to run; combine all of that mucus with a little poor hygiene and it is literally a breeding ground for hostile germs. Also, as mentioned, some viruses do survive longer in the cold.
It's no wonder that illnesses spread so fast with so much superstition going around. I thought the middle ages were over.
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