If you've ever had the flu …

...it won't surprise you to know that it can seriously affect your balance. 

But did you know that even a mild cold will also have a detrimental effect? We all know the symptoms that come with a cold: poor sleep, fatigue, difficulty concentrating. All these also affect balance. iShoe's Director of Marketing, Andrea Case-Rogers, reports her first encounter with a balance test occurred "while recovering from a chest cold. I scored four out of ten on the scale, which worried me as I'd just seen a couple of sixty year-olds score 6's". When she was back to normal health, she measured herself again and scored a more comfortable 7/10. Is there anything that you can do to boost your balance when you're sick?

• Concentrate on drinking enough liquid and eating well - which should also help your body fight off the cold.

• Distraction is dangerous: give yourself extra time to complete tasks so that you're not rushing or having to multi-task at a time when your mind is already distracted.

• Be aware that taking cold medication can also impair your balance.

• Try to get some gentle exercise to maintain flexibility in your joints and muscles.

• Take a cat nap, or go to bed earlier if possible, to allow your body to rest, even if sleep itself is difficult.

Above all, recognize that at this time you are more vulnerable to falling and injuring yourself. By being more mindful, you can help prevent an accident.