By Andrew Chung and John Kruzel WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Conservative U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, under scrutiny over revelations that

While your child may be excited about returning to school this September, there’s also a little anxiety about the one thing that can put a spanner in the works: a cold. As Dr Dave Nichols, of MyHealthChecked, an at-home wellness testing company, puts it: “The return to school following the summer holidays often coincides with a rise in a number of respiratory illnesses, including the common cold.” Common symptoms include a cough, sore throat, nasal irritation, nasal discharge (rhinorrhoea), a fever or generalised malaise, explains Nichols. “While the common cold can affect all population groups, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence report this to be far higher amongst children, who experience an average of five to eight colds per year.” Nichols continues: “Adults who have regular contact with children are also seen to have colds more frequently.” He says children are especially important in the transmission, acting as reservoirs for the infection as they have fewer antibodies and a more immature immune system, making them more susceptible to the common cold. “Direct contact with the skin or hand contact with an infected object are key ways the virus is transmitted,” notes Nichols. “Which explains why numbers seen amongst children are higher, as they are more likely to have close contact with each other in nursery and school.” While there is no cure for the common cold, he says prevention remains crucial in order to protect ourselves from illness. Here are some top tips to reduce the chances of catching a cold… Adopt good hygiene measures Basic good hygiene measures are an important way of reducing the transmission of viruses, says Nichols. Wash hands frequently with warm soap and water if you (or the kids) have symptoms, or have come into close contact with someone who has symptoms. He says to avoid sharing items within households, such as towels, can also help. Get into a physical exercise routine Ensuring regular physical exercise is important because it has been shown to reduce the chances of people developing viral illnesses such as the common cold, advises Nichols. “Exercise plays an important role in boosting immunity by increasing the circulation of some important immune cells, which fight against infection,” says Nichols. “It also plays a key role in helping to reduce stress and the release of stress-related hormones within the body, which has an important impact.” Eat healthy foods to maximise your wellbeing “Eating well will help support a good functioning immune system,” says Dr Emeka Okorocha, medical doctor and TV personality. “The body needs a range of nutrients and vitamins to stay strong and healthy, and prevent the development of disease.” He highlights the following vitamins… “Vitamin A, which is converted from beta carotene found in vegetables such as sweet potatoes and beetroots, is very good for helping support the mucosal lining in your nose and lungs – and helps defend against infection. “Vitamin C has always been considered a good preventative vitamin from catching colds, this can be found naturally in fruits like strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries – and in leafy vegetables like spinach as well as broccoli, peppers and peas. “Vitamin D that many of us get from natural sunlight is also ideal for overall health – and studies have shown that people lacking in vitamin D are more likely to succumb to infection.” In winter months, when there are lower levels of natural sunlight, he says you can obtain vitamin D from foods such as salmon, mackerel, eggs, and mushrooms. Berries are very beneficial Okorocha continues: “I love fresh berries – strawberries, raspberries and blueberries, for example, are high in antioxidants and contain lots of vitamin C, which helps our bodies to produce antibodies that keep us from getting sick. “Berries are also high in flavonoids which help protect cells in our immune system by promoting activation and secretory processes within cells.” He says studies have indicated that regularly eating fruits such as blueberries may decrease your likelihood of catching a cold. Get adequate rest and sleep Ensuring you’re getting adequate amounts of rest and sleep is crucial in helping to reduce your risk of becoming unwell, urges Nichols. “A healthy adult needs between seven to nine hours of sleep per night, with children requiring longer,” says Nichols. “Sleep quality has been shown to be an important predictor of immunity, with those regularly sleeping under the recommended amounts more likely to develop a cold. “Improving your sleeping pattern is therefore an important way to reduce the chances of becoming unwell.” Read More Former royal chef explains why Prince William and Kate’s children don’t eat with them ‘You think it’s going to be a money making machine’: How modern life killed the hobby People defend bride after father-in-law explains why he left wedding early 4 hacks to get teens off the sofa and get active – as study warns of heart damage Elle King opens up about her ‘deep depression’ amid two-year postpartum journey BBC Radio 2’s Tony Blackburn reveals he had sepsis and pneumonia in health update

An OnlyFans creator has caused a stir online after filming a promotional video with her brother. Camilla Araujo, who appeared on MrBeast's famed Squid Game challenge, took to social media with the clip that shows her asking her younger brother what it feels like to have a sister that is on the adult platform. "My friends always ask me if it’s pink, and I don’t really know what they mean by that," the brother responded. The clip was soon shared to X (formerly known as Twitter) where it was inundated with comments from disturbed users. "She gotta go to jail for this one man," one person said, while another added: "Desperate times call for desperate measures." "He better not actually be a brother, I could never agree to do a vid like this let alone have a sister that does OF," a third said. Another quipped: "This generation is doomed" Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Meanwhile, across the pond in London, one OnlyFans creator was bombarded with complaints for her unique advertising methods. It came after billboards promoting a NSFW page were cropping up across London, including in Harrow and Edgware, northwest London and Norwood. One resident was so outraged that they graffitied the OnlyFans advert in North Harrow with the message: "Keep porn off our streets." Another resident, who asked not to be named, said: “I am not making a moral argument for or against pornography, but rather how it is allowed to be advertised in such an unregulated way. “The use of sexualised imagery, although far from ideal, is not my main sticking point, rather, the service advertised is entirely inappropriate for a billboard visible to all. Harrow is a rural suburb of Greater London, not Soho or the red light district of Amsterdam," they continued. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

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