What is the Common Cold?
The common cold is a virus born entity, that presents with a relatively short incubation period and causes some unsavory symptoms for a brief amount of time. It is upper respiratory in nature, affecting the nose, throat, and lungs. The common cold is caused by a virus. There are over one-hundred different types of viruses that can cause these cold-like symptoms. The main culprit is the rhino-virus. These viruses are most common during the Spring and Fall and contrary to popular belief not in the Winter. The virus is also WITHOUT a fever, which is important to know when deciding to come to a clinic for treatment. It is easily contracted by shaking hands, someone coughing nearby, and is easily spread through aerosol droplets. Observe children in school as they are preoccupied with playing, wiping their runny nose on their sleeve and hand, then continue playing. This interaction with others is a perfect scenario for spreading this common ailment. It is a myth, that you will get the cold by not wearing a coat outside, standing in the rain, or walking barefoot to get the mail. You are most likely to get the cold by grocery shopping and receiving your change back from the employee who just wiped her nose. Another myth is the belief that having large tonsils, or frequent sore throats cause the problem. Sorry, not a chance. It is a virus that is not selective on who it chooses. However, if one has been exposed many times, antibodies can build up and you are less likely to get certain strains. Health care providers have been shown to have less incidents of the common cold than others.
What are the Symptoms of the Common Cold?
Symptoms of the common cold are a runny nose, the mucous can be clear or yellowish, sinuses will become stuffy and one routinely gets the fluctuation of one nasal passage clogged then the other, NO fever, sneezing, sore throat, and cough. You usually do not get body aches and just feel tired. The incubation period ( time from exposure to showing symptoms is about two days.) The common cold last around ten days, but has been known to last as long as two weeks. The majority of symptoms show improvement after four or five days. It is not uncommon for individuals to demand an antibiotic. What is interesting here, is that if one takes the antibiotic they feel they have credence that it works when in reality the cold is running it’s course and one is getting better anyway with or without the antibiotic. Individuals who have respiratory problems; allergies, asthma, and other sinus conditions can commonly get a bacterial infection on top of this cold. Your immune system is run down and you have the conditions just right for a bacterial infection to set in.
What is the treatment for the Common Cold?
Supportive treatment is advised. Tylenol or Ibuprofen for aches. Over the counter anti-histamines will help dry up secretions and plenty of fluids are important. Over the counter cough suppressants are helpful. Delsym is the only over the counter cough suppressant that lasts around twelve hours and does a fairly good job. Be cautious with remedies like Nyquil, Dayquil as they contain Tylenol. One should monitor how much Tylenol one is actually taking. Nasal inhalers should be used with caution. Afrin should NOT be used greater than three days as you run the risk of a rebound effect and you will end up becoming more congested. Humidifiers in the bedroom help, cold or warm does not matter. Just get some moisture in the room. Remember to clean your humidifier out every other day, as it can be a reservoir for harboring bacteria. Toughing it out, and recognizing in time this will dissipate.
What are some non-traditional treatments for the Common Cold?
In medicine we look at studies. Studies consist of large sample sizes and are hopefully controlled studies to look at two different groups. The group that is sick and the other may not be. We then present the treatment and look at dosages,duration and resolution, not to mention side effects and good as well as bad outcome. The medical literature is very emphatic that Vitamin C, Zinc, Echinacea, and vitamins do not help in shortening the duration. I disagree. Yes, the studies, we must ad-hear to the studies. Do the above mentioned remedies cure the cold? Absolutely not, however I have found that a few, clearly help make one feel more comfortable. Isn’t that what most of this is about, trying to feel more comfortable? I have not found a great deal of benefit from Echinacea, however increasing the Vitamin C to two to three grams a day has helped. Remember Vitamin C can be a culprit in exacerbating kidney stones, if you are prone to kidney stones I would advise against high doses. So, why two to three grams. Vitamin C is a water soluble vitamin, we excrete out fifty-percent of water soluble vitamins, so in reality we are only getting half of that amount. Zinc lozenges, another over the counter medication, also seems to help one’s sore throat, and alleviate symptoms. Again, none of these cure the cold but they sure seem to help. When reading the literature as recently as 2010 from reputable sites and new addition texts, they state none of these “folk” remedies cure the cold. We know that, they do not mention if they could be palliative and just make you feel a little better. Chicken soup. Yes, the good ole staple of chicken soup actually has scientific evidence to possibly shorten the duration of the common cold by a day or two. You need to eat a fair amount, at least two to three bowels a day as per the research I found, however, a small price to pay.
How do you prevent the Common Cold?
Wash your hands, wash your hands and wash your hands. During the season of Spring and Fall and I am aware the cold is running rapid among patients I will frequently use hand sanitizer before going into a store and after. Remember there is no need to quarantine yourself from daily activities, it is a cold not a deadly Ebola virus. Also the more exposure to different virus antigens the more of chance your antibodies will build up to fight these pests off.