You’re a true road warrior: Your life consists of sleepless, nap-free, stress-filled, mega-hour days spent traversing the globe with pit stops to gobble (if you’re lucky) McSomethings on your way to the next appointment. But you’re a determined to outwit any virus that dares intrude on your travel work schedule. Heeding expert advice, you’ve: washed your hands till they’re raw. Employed all sorts of tactics to avoid touching germ-laden surfaces. Switched seats as if engaged in a game of musical chairs to dodge sniffling, sneezing seatmates.

And yet, despite your Howard Hughes–like actions, your throat is itchy, or you feel achy or weak or you’re sneezing. Despite your best efforts at prevention, you feel the first signs of an invading cold or flu bug. And you know you're in trouble, because you still have four days of a harrowing travel schedule left until you can go home and sleep in your own bed.

In last week’s Germ Warfare 101—Part 1, I explained how you can help keep yourself from catching a cold or the flu on the road. This week I’ll tell you what you can do to lessen the impact should you be felled by a dreaded virus.

If You’re a Casualty
You've got to move quickly when the "enemy" strikes. A cold can take several days to incubate (the flu hits more intensely and quickly), so if you act when your body shows the first signs of entry (scratchy throat, stuffy nose, etc.), you may be able to nip one in the bud.

Go Herbal
Herbal remedies and supplements can be very effective in loosening the grip of viral invaders.

► Elderberry may de-activate viruses that cause colds and flus; it can also help relieve fever, muscle aches, and other symptoms.

► Suck on a slippery elm lozenge if you have an unproductive cough.

► Infection-battling Echinacea is a known cold deterrent.

► Goldenseal contains a natural antibiotic and helps reduce inflammation of mucous membranes and relieves congestion. (Add cayenne pepper to foods to prevent or break up congestion.)

► Selenium soothes inflammation of sore throats, nasal passages.

► Zinc lozenges may reduce the duration of some cold symptoms if taken as soon as symptoms surface. Suck on a zinc gluconate lozenge (13 to 23 milligrams) every two hours. Zinc lozenges should only be taken when you've come down with a cold. To ensure efficacy, choose a lozenge that does not contain citric or tartaric acid, mannitol, or sorbitol and do not take on an empty stomach or with Vitamin C or a citrus fruit or drink (Citric acid deactivates zinc.).

Although herbs can be highly effective, the combination of prescription drugs and some herbs can result in harmful drug interactions. Alert your healthcare providers to any herbs you may be taking.
 

Call the Doctor
At the first signs of a flu, which can be sudden and intense, call a doctor if you haven't had a flu shot. Doctors can prescribe amantadine, which, when taken within 24 to 48 hours of the onset of symptoms, may help shorten the duration and reduce the severity of the flu. Then head for bed for as much time as possible. Drink lots of fluids and take an analgesic for fever and pain. (Heed the flu. Its byproducts include sinus congestion, bronchitis, strep throat, an earache, or even pneumonia.)

Those who prefer natural remedies swear by Oscillium, a homeopathic remedy that comes in pill form. If taken as soon as symptoms emerge, it can help relieve flu symptoms and may shorten the duration of the flu.

Don't Take Antibiotics!
Antibiotics have no effect on viral illnesses such as the cold and flu. Taking antibiotics when they aren't required can limit their efficacy when you really need them.

Don’t Overtreat Symptoms
Though annoying, cold symptoms are a sign that your immune system is actively working to rid itself of infection. So think twice before automatically repressing a fever or a productive cough.

Choose products that treat a specific symptom (stuffy nose, etc.) and avoid multipurpose remedies. Don’t expect non-prescription, over-the-counter remedies to cure—or even shorten the duration of a bug. And although they’re designed to help relieve symptoms, some may have side effects that are even more problematic.
 

The Essentials: Food, Water, Sleep
Up your intake of water and juices (avoid alcohol, caffeine, and sugar-laden liquids) and foods that contain copper (seafood, beans, tomato sauce), zinc (lobster, meats), and protein (meat, beans), which help kill viruses.

Get sufficient sleep and rest, which are critical to help your body heal. Let me repeat that: Get sufficient sleep and rest. Not only does overdoing it ensure that you will feel even worse and risk collapsing into a heap, but it may delay your recovery. Invest in your recovery and you’re likely to feel better more quickly than if you tough it out.

Reschedule a Trip
The diehard businessperson in all of us is often loath to give in to our body's demands. If you have a high tolerance for pain and discomfort, you can probably fly safely with a minor ear infection, a severe head cold, the flu, an upper respiratory infection, sinusitis, bronchitis, or a high fever. But, doctors caution, you really shouldn't. (Some airlines ban crewmembers from flying with colds or ear infections.) If you can, as a consideration to yourself and others, avoid flying when you are most contagious—the 24 to 48 hours after you come down with symptoms.

Prevention is a two-way street. Do your share: Stay out of circulation to avoid passing on what you've got. You'll feel healthier faster, and also protect the health of your would-be fellow travelers, not to mention your coworkers and clients!