The common cold

What is the Common Cold?

The common cold is something that almost everyone experiences at least once in their life - if not at least one or more times within a single year. While the common cold is not serious or permanently damaging, it can be quite annoying if not debilitating for the 5-14 days that it lasts. The common cold comes from a very contagious virus that causes inflammation in the upper respiratory system that causes inflammation in the lining of the nose and throat.

Scientists have identified over 200 varieties of the virus; however, the most common one is the rhinovirus (nose related) - which cause at least 30% of all colds.

How do you catch it?

Many cases of the common cold are caught through exposure to the virus in the upper nasal passages. The environment in the upper nose is ideal for growth of the virus (as it is humid and warm.) If one is exposed to the virus in the upper nasal passages, it is pretty hard to not contract it, despite immune health. Thus, regardless of sleep, exercise or emotional health, you are likely to catch the cold if exposed to it in the nose. However, many believe that you are less likely to catch it from other modes (kissing, breathing it in through the mouth, etc. if you have built up the immune system through proper sleep and diet.) The mucous membranes in the mouth have good defenses against the virus. You are also less likely to catch a cold by sharing space with someone. However, the more exposure you have, the higher the likelihood.

The cold is most contagious in the first 3 days - starting a day or two before they even show symptoms. This makes it particularly insidious- as people are likely to pass it to others before they even know they have it.

Babies and kids are more prone to getting the common cold as they are still building up immunities. People are likely to get less and less as they get older.

Some evidence suggests that those who smoke are most likely to catch colds due to impact that smoking has on their nose cilia- which is the main line of defense against the rhino virus.

Myths

Many think you are more prone to catching the common cold if you are outside in the cold, or if you are exposed to cold with wet hair-- however, studies show this does not increase likelihood of catching the cold. In fact, one is just as likely to catch a cold in warm weather as they are in cold weather. It is possible that colds are more prevalent in the winter because of the use of indoor heating; this dries out the nasal passages which might make one more susceptible.

How to prevent catching a cold

If you are around someone who has a cold:

• wash your hands regularly
• do not share cups or eating utensils
• get plenty of sleep to keep immune system as strong as possible
• eat well - a balanced diet will help to boost the immune system
• you may want to take a heavy dose of Vitamin C for a few days as a preventive measure;
• take zinc ; perhaps larger than the recommended daily dose- (not to exceed the daily allowance for more than 14 days straight.) There are mixed theories on zinc and colds; some say it will help shorten the length of a cold but it will not ward off a cold.
• take Echinacea, the herb that is known to boost the immune system (also avoid taking this for more than 2-6 weeks at a time.)

What to do if you have a cold?

1. If you feel sick, get rest. While rest will not cure the cold, it might make dealing with the symptoms more tolerable. Generally, if you are feeling tired, your body needs the extra sleep. It is also helpful if you let the body rest more by exercising less. It is probably best to take a break from exercise and over exertion of the body in any way during the first few days of the cold.
2. Take a day off. This will not only make the worst day of the cold more tolerable but also decrease the likelihood of spreading it to others.
3. Consider using a humidifier- this can make you feel better, especially if the nasal passages and throat are sore and dry feeling.
4. Attempt natural healing remedies before hitting the over-the-counter cold medication. Try gargling with salt water for a sore throat, using saline drops in the nose for dryness and stuffiness. If you do take decongestants, acetaminophen, antihistamines, or cough suppressants- try take less than the recommended dosage. And be cautious about when you take them- many decongestants are stimulants and cause impede with sleep while antihistamines cause drowsiness.
5. Keep lips and nose moisturized; this will help the dryness caused from a runny nose and forced 'mouth breathing'.
6. Drink lots of fluids. Some say this is a myth- drinking more fluids will not necessarily make a difference. However, it will keep the body hydrated (as some cold medications can lead to dry mouth, etc.) Drinking hot fluids can be good as they can increase the release of nasal secretions.
7. Do NOT take antibiotics! Antibiotics are over-prescribed in our culture. Antibiotics should be used when the illness is bacterial and not viral as antibiotics do NOT kill viruses. This can make matters worse in the long-run; it might lower your receptivity to antibiotics in the future, as well as increase the likelihood of generating more antibiotic-resistant illnesses. Thus, these 'miracle drugs' are starting to lose their efficacy. If you find that you have an illness that is lasting longer than 14 days, and is turning into an infection in the throat, eyes, ears, etc. then taking an antiobiotic is recommended.

References

• The Complete Home Wellness Handbook, part of the UC Berkeley Wellness Center
• The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases