'Tis the season to be jolly--but it's also the season for colds, which can make your holidays much less fun.

While there are things you can do to lessen your chances of getting sick, there are also many so-called remedies and preventive measures that just don't work. Here's some information to help you sort out fact and fiction--and boost your chances for a healthy holiday.

The truth about...

• Getting chilled Despite what your mother may have told you, going outside without a hat will not increase your chances of catching cold. In studies by Britain's Common Cold Unit during the 1940s, volunteers who were wet down and then exposed to cold air were no more likely to catch cold than control subjects in cozier conditions. Those results have been confirmed in many more studies since.
• Being in crowds According to some experts, it can take up to several hundred hours of exposure to a cold virus to catch a cold--so you are more likely to catch cold from someone you spend a lot of time with, such as a family member, rather than through a chance encounter with strangers. Still, as cold virus particles can hang in the air for hours after someone coughs or sneezes, it is wise for the immunocompromised (including very young infants with immature immune systems) to avoid large gatherings or, if impossible, to wear surgical masks.
• Washing your hands Most cold viruses are transmitted via hand-to-nose or hand-to-eye contact. For that reason, washing your hands frequently is the single most important thing you can do to prevent the spread of germs. The Centers for Disease Control recommends washing your hands with soap for 10 to 15 seconds (about the time it takes to sing "Happy Birthday to You"), as it is both the soap and the scrubbing action that help dislodge bacteria. However, it is not necessary to use . . .
• Antibacterial products Contrary to popular belief, these products do not kill the viruses that cause cold. Moreover, some researchers believe that overuse of such products could actually lead to new strains of resistant bacteria. For home use, regular soap is as effective, less expensive, and often less drying to the skin than antibacterial products. And remember--the scrubbing action is just as important, if not more important, than the cleaning agent you use.
• Disinfecting surfaces Disinfectants such as Lysol and bleach solutions can kill viruses lurking on doorknobs, counters, and other surfaces in the home, but even the most vigilant cleaning is highly unlikely to kill everything--so be sure to wash your hands, and try to avoid touching your nose and eyes.
• Vitamin C and zinc There is no scientific evidence that taking megadoses of Vitamin C prevents colds or appreciably affects the duration of colds. In fact, overdosing can cause problems, such as severe diarrhea. Studies of zinc are inconclusive, but again, the mineral could cause problems in some people, so check with your doctor before taking it.
• Being considerate If you already have a cold, try to avoid those who don't--especially for the first three days, when you are most contagious. When you sneeze or cough, do so into a tissue, and then throw it away. And, finally--keep washing those hands!