The news may be filled with mad cow disease and the return of SARS in China. But if your e-mails are any indicator, the main thing on your mind is cold and flu prevention. You write, somewhat desperately, of your need for some foolproof strategy or magical product. Alas, there are no magical products or any sure-fire strategies to guarantee that you won't get sick this winter. You can get a flu shot and still come down with the flu. You can be a scrupulous hand washer and crowd avoider who wears a face mask around folks who are already ill—and you can still end up coughing, sneezing, wheezing, and wondering why your preventive efforts failed.

But there are steps you can take to reduce your exposure, minimize the severity of symptoms, cut short your downtime, and speed your recovery. In a nutshell, you should:

No single article can cover every aspect of cold/flu prevention and treatment, so I've compiled a list of useful articles and other resources and linked you to them. There are FAQs, charts, news, and guides to every aspect of cold/flu prevention and treatment and related health problems. I've also provided multiple links to natural remedies and traditional products. (The sources: Wellness Concierge columns and articles from top health sites such as WebMD, Intelihealth (Harvard Medical Schools), Dr. Weil.com, and the Mayo Clinic and leading health publications.)

Got a question about colds and the flu? Don't waste time searching the Web. Scroll down to find out almost everything you'd ever want to know about colds and the flu—as well as answers and advice to help you with questions such as:

Be well.

 —Marlene R. Fedin, The Wellness Concierge®

► USA Today: Are you practicing good "respiratory etiquette"? Check these tips to find out if you're a social health hazard.

    Expert advice from About.com; WebMD/MSN

► When Working Out Will Work Against You

► How to Build a Better Immune System

► Follow an Immune-Enhancing Diet

► Consumer Reports Magazine: Echinacea Can Reduce Duration of Cold,

     (But Shop Carefully)

•They won't create any problems with a prescription medication or vitamins, supplements, or herbal remedy you are taking (check with your doctor or a pharmacist and an herbalist or naturopath);

• You don't have any pre-existing conditions such as high blood pressure that would be exacerbated by the ingredients in an over-the-counter (OTC) product or prescription medication. (See Ingredient Warnings)

Take a product that deals only with your specific symptoms (coughing, fever, aches and pains, etc.). Avoid all-in-one products that treat multiple symptoms.

• Don't take more than the recommended dosage. In other words, don't double the dosage because you feel really lousy. Upping the dosage won't speed up your recovery and it could make you very sick.

• Take the prescribed dosage at appropriate intervals and frequency. Don't shorten or lengthen the recommended time between dosages and don't change the frequency; set an alarm as a reminder if needed.

Check the active ingredients on any product you are taking. Two different products may contain an active ingredient that works to relieve a fever. That's an example of duplicate usage that you should avoid.

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The local or nearest pharmacy or drugstore doesn't have what you need? Order traditional and homeopathic remedies online from wide and deeply inventoried Drugstore.com. You can find European favorites and international homeopathic remedies at specialty pharmacies such as Bigelow Chemists, which stocks products from around the globe.

• Jane Brody's Cold and Flu Fighter (Jane E. Brody)
• Natural Treatments for Colds and Flus
(Anna M. Barton, N.D.; Elizabeth W. Collins,  Ph.D.; Nancy Berkoff)