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Colds and Flu:
UNDERSTANDING the common or head COLD - health service. (Part 2)
What is a Cold?
A common cold is actually a disease and a minor illness that results
from infection by any one of almost 200 different viruses. Usually a
common, or head cold is confined to the nose and throat, and sometimes
the larynx and the lungs. These viral infections can also lead to more
serious bacterial infections of the throat, lungs or ears. (Click the
Respiratory System image on the left to enlarge it.)
Who catches a cold?
All of us catch colds. Most of us had our first cold during our first year of life. Children are extremely susceptible to nasal viral infection between the ages of 1 and 3. Then they gradually become immune to many common viruses. The frequency of colds increases again during early school years, because the school environment contains new types of viruses. Also, schoolchildren may be careless about covering their mouths when they sneeze. Most people acquire more immunity as they grow older and catch fewer and less severe colds. Young adults may have 2 or 3 colds per year; elderly adults may have only one or none. Ninety-five percent of people exposed to a cold virus become infected, although only 75% show symptoms.
Symptoms of a cold
Colds are generally associated with a runny nose or sniffling,
sneezing, sore throat, coughing, headaches and tiredness. The runny
nose, sneezing and coughing are all part of your bodies defense system
to get rid of the virus. (Unfortunately these also are what spread the
virus to the next person.) At first the nasal discharge is usually
watery. Then it becomes thick and greenish-yellow. You nay also have a
headache and slight fever.
Cold symptoms start 1 or 2 days after the infection. Colds typically
last three to five days, with residual coughing lasting up to three
weeks. But infections can spread through the respiratory tract causing
secondary infections into your middle ear, sinuses, larynx, trachea or
lungs. Your body’s immune system kills the virus and usually you will
not be affected by that particular virus again. However, because of the
large number of different cold viruses, you can be infected by another
cold virus to start the process all over again.
What to do?
The common cold is caused by numerous viruses (mainly rhinoviruses, corona viruses, and also certain echoviruses, paramyxoviruses, and coxsackieviruses) infecting the upper respiratory system. There is no known cure for the cold. However, there are some helpful things you can do for yourself and everyone else.
- Stay at home (this is to stop the spread of your cold to others).
- Drink plenty of fluids.
- Stay warm and increase the moisture in the air.
- If you sneeze or cough, cover your mouth with a tissue.
- Do not shake hands with anyone and frequently wash your hands. When you sneeze or cough, the virus “cloud” can last for hours on our hand and even in the air.
- In general, stay clear of antibiotics – viruses do not respond to them anyway.
- Take vitamin C? While small doses of vitamin C are good for most people, it probably won’t hurt. However, there is no evidence that taking vitamin C actually helps when you have a cold. An aspirin can help relieve aches and pains and help you sleep.
“Feed a cold, starve a fever”? While most of the medical profession says that your eating habits can’t effect a viral infection, certain studies do seem to indicate that the old “wife’s tale” may not be so silly after all. So eat a few extra apples.
Next: » Part 3: What is Influenza? - differences between colds and flu.
Related Articles:
» Is mine a Cold or Influenza?
» Part 2: What is a common Cold? -
facts and tips.
» What is Influenza? - differences
between colds and flu.
» Flu Vaccines and Vaccinations -
preventative measures.
» Anti-viral drugs and
immunization facts and links.
(the Treating Pneumonia article is here »)
Video
Presentation: (Requires free flash software - on
YouTube.com) (3:57 minutes - opens a new window.)
Simple
Trick to Treat the Cold or Flu - Dr. Mercola reviews a simple
inexpensive therapy that can eliminate your colds or flu especially if
done early in the course of the illness. (Video honored twice.)