COMMON COLD – COMMON AND UNCOMMON KNOWLEDGE

 The common cold is something that afflicts many of us almost every winter.  Typical symptoms associated with common cold are well known to both doctors and patients but there are tons of things we don’t actually know about it. Over half of patients start by developing a sore throat followed by congestion in the sinuses and the nose, sneezing and a runny nose. These symptoms are usually accompanied by fever, cough, and hoarseness which may outlast them sometimes by a few weeks. High fevers, are however, rare from common cold alone.

Other less common symptoms of common cold include headache, decreased appetite, muscle aches, sore throat and post-nasal drip that cause cough on lying on the back. Patients are at their most infectious during the first 24 hours but they continue to remain infectious for the duration of the symptoms. As the cold progresses, the discharge from your nose will initially be runnier but will thicken and may even turn yellow. However, this is quite normal and there is rarely any need for antibiotics.

In most cases, the common cold goes away within five to ten days although a few symptoms can last for as long as three weeks among certain individuals.

Spread:

Due to the ease with which the common cold virus gets transmitted from the mouth, nose or sneezed or coughed as droplets by an infected individual or from the hand of one individual to another’s hand can also result in transmission if the second person proceed to rub or touch his/her nose or eyes, a new infection takes root. That is the reason why nearly half the family members, flatmates or roommates also end up getting infected. There is also a high rate of transmission of colds in day care facilities and schools.

Prevention:

To lower your chances of getting infected:

·         Hand washing: Adults and children should wash their hands after nose wiping, using the bathroom, preparing food, eating, etc.
·         Keep your environment sterile – your priority should be to disinfect commonly touched surfaces such as door knobs, sink handles, sleeping matters, etc with an EPA approved disinfectant.
·         Stop the spread of germs by using instant had sanitizers.
·         Replace cloth towels with paper towels when using public facilities.
·         Drink plenty of fluid to keep your immune system working at the optimal level.
·         Consume a healthy diet with plenty of vitamins and minerals to optimize your immune health.
·         Avoid using antibiotics unless they are really needed.
·         Eat yogurts containing “active cultures” as they may help prevent the common cold.

Here are 10 interesting things about Common Cold

1. Its name is a misnomer

The thing about the common cold is that there’s nothing common about it, because it’s actually a collective term for more than 200 viruses that each have their own way of getting around the human body’s defenses. Since common cold symptoms can be caused by so many viruses, it has not been possible to develop a simple cure for the infection.

The common cold should not be mistaken for influenza, which can make you ill for much longer, has more severe symptoms, and can result in hospitalization or lead to serious health problems including pneumonia.

2. The “cold” part is a bit complicated

Scientists aren’t certain sure whether lower temperatures affect a virus’ pathogenicity, but they do know that the common cold spreads more easily in winter because we tend to spend more time indoors in closed quarters.

3. Colds dry out protective barriers

During wintertime, air tends to be drier, and this can lead to the protective mucus in our nasal cavities drying up when we breathe in. As a result, the body cannot do its job of catching potentially dangerous microbes before they reach our respiratory system. When you get a runny nose from a cold, it’s because your body is fighting back and trying to compensate for the dried up mucus.

4. Common colds are more common than we realize

While adults suffer an average of two to three colds per year, children can experience up to eight or perhaps even more. A survey conducted in the US in 2012 found that colds decreased productivity by 26%. Yet another survey found that colds cost the US economy some $25 billion per year. We do not have such authentic statistics from India so far.

5. Rest is the best cold medicine

Our bodies go into overdrive when we’re sick, doing their best to try and cure whichever ailment we may be suffering from. This means that just going about your daily routine as usual can have a negative impact on your health, and your brain. A study published in Brain, Behavior, and Immunity found that those with colds experienced poorer alertness, a negative mood, and psychomotor slowing. In other words, they experienced muddied thought processes and slower reaction times.

6. Don’t lie flat on your back when resting

Gravity can actually cause further congestion in your nasal passages, leading to it dripping down your throat, making it sore and causing you to cough. The best position to rest in when you have a cold is to prop yourself upright with pillows to reduce the cough receptor irritation by constant post nasal drip in the back of your throat.

7. A cost-free way of getting better quicker is…

A study conducted back in 2009 found that patients who had more empathetic doctors were sick one day less on average than those who did not. Patients with empathetic doctors were found to have double the levels of IL-8, which is a protein molecule that the body releases to fight colds.

8. Light exercise won’t go amiss

You obviously need to rest when you’re ill, but doing some light exercise can also help to boost your immune system. Regular exercise can help your body to fight back against germs. An explanation for this, according to the US National Library of Medicine, is that exercise helps to flush out germs from the lung and airways.

9. Vitamin C isn’t as effective at treating common colds as we think

Back in 2013, some 29 separate trials regarding vitamin C supplements failed to reduce incidences of colds. Huge doses did have small effects, but they were almost negligible.

10. Gargling a lot is good

A Japanese study found that participants who gargled regularly with water exhibited an almost 40% decrease in colds when compared to the control group. Try gargling with a quarter-teaspoon of salt mixed in with eight ounces of warm water.

So how should we treat Common Cold?

Although it is possible for you to improve the symptoms of common cold using a variety of medical therapies, they do not cure, shorten or prevent the illness. It is advised to try and keep onerself comfortable by get as much rest as possibly, drink lots of fluids and treat the symptoms. Some of the common ways to treat the symptoms of cold are:-

·         Gargle warm salt water to soothe sore throat
·         Inhaling steam with or without essential oils and herbal aromas can temporarily relieve nasal congestion
·         OTC remedies containing decongestants help relive congestion and stop secretions. They can also be used to stop cough if I is triggered by mucus in the throat.
·         Antihistamines are used to relive symptoms of watery eyes and runny nose.
·         According to some studies, zinc lozenges can shorten the duration of common cold symptoms.
·         Antibiotics should not be used to treat common cold and its symptoms.

Ayurveic Options:

·         The Clove Bud, nature’s cough drop
·         Tulsi (Basil), Turmeric and Ginger Tea for fever,
·         Ginger-Baking Soda Bath for body aches, chills, and fever
·         Ginger Juice for nausea
·         Turmeric, Salt and Cayenne Gargle for sore throat 

Diet:

Healthy options include oatmeal, kitchari, homemade chicken soup, basmati rice, and chicken broth, etc. Avoid dairy, meat (broth is better!), all sugar except small amounts of honey, raw or cold foods, cold beverages, and all processed foods.