There’s having a cold, and then there’s having a post-festival cold. Coming home from a weekend of partying in damp fields and sleeping in a tent is not, as a general rule, particularly fun: not least because you’re probably feeling hungover and sad that the weekend is over, but also because you might be feeling sniffly and headachy too. Some call this ‘festival flu’ and it’s not a great way to end your weekend, especially if you have to go back to work the following day.

“Lack of sleep, eating less nutritious foods over several days and drinking excessive amounts of alcohol will all lead to a weakened immune system, and therefore we become more exposed to getting sick and catching colds,” explains Dr Ross Perry, a GP and the medical director of Cosmedics clinics.

Festivals are densely populated places where you’ll regularly be coming into contact with new people. “Because of crowds at festivals, this means it’s far easier to catch something,” Dr Perry explains. “Also surfaces and toilets, particularly at festivals, are full of bacteria and germs that easily spread from person to person.”

Lifestyle habits at festivals can also affect the body’s ability to fight off viruses. “Even though drinking alcohol sends us to sleep very quickly, in actual fact we miss out on the all-important rapid eye movement, which should be around six to seven cycles,” says Dr Perry. 

You’re also probably not going to be getting enough nutrients from the foods you’re eating (because food-truck tacos don’t count as one of your five a day), making it even more likely that your body will get run down very quickly and you’ll get sick on your return home.

In the UK, we’re also often dealing with less-than-ideal weather at festivals, which might make you feel worse if you have a cold. But don’t worry – you can’t actually catch a cold by being in the rain, as many people believe. “That’s a complete myth,” Dr Perry says. “Viruses and bacteria cause infections, and these are likely to be transmitted from person to person by inhaling them in the form of air droplets from a sneeze or a cough.”

But if the last couple of years have taught us anything, it’s that simple habits can help protect us from viruses, so make sure you’re carrying a bottle of hand sanitiser around at all times and using it as often as you can in order to prevent picking up any infections. But there are a few other things you can do too.

Hydration is key

“Keep hydrated by drinking plenty of water. For every alcoholic beverage, drink a small bottle of water,” advises Dr Perry. Festivals like Glastonbury have water stations all over the festival site so it might be a good idea to take a small reusable water bottle with you to fill up as often as you can.

Take multivitamins

Dr Perry also suggests stocking up on multivitamins to take with you, to replace the nutrients you might be missing from food, especially vitamin C. Taking Berocca at your campsite first thing in the morning is probably a good idea. Try and find fresh fruit where you can too, which will help to boost your immune system, even if you’re eating it alongside a bacon sandwich.

Don’t share food or drink

This is because “bacteria passed between others is at an all-time high during festivals”, says Dr Perry. Although it might be tempting to accept a sip of someone’s Aperol spritz in the heat of a Saturday afternoon, it’s probably not worth having to sniffle your way through your favourite act the next day.

Sleep whenever you can

We all know just important sleep is and although it can be difficult to get any kind of shuteye at festivals, it is possible – and it could be the thing that ensures your body is able to fight off any illnesses. A midday nap counts, don’t forget. And while you’re stocking up on multivitamins, maybe invest in some ear plugs too.

Don’t touch your face

Dr Perry’s final tip is to avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth as much as possible. Remember that pandemic-era government slogan: “Hands, face, space”? It might be a good thing to say to yourself as you’re dancing to the headline act this Saturday night if you want to avoid having a blocked nose on top of a hangover on Sunday morning.

If you do end up catching a cold or virus, make sure to spend some time resting and looking after yourself when you get home and speak to your GP if you’re worried about your symptoms.

Images: Getty