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On average, people have a cough or cold for the equivalent of two and a half years of their lives. And, every time you get knocked down with those all-too-familiar symptoms, it feels like it drags on for a lifetime.
From the simple irritation of a runny nose and the discomfort of a sore throat to the debilitating fallout of blocked sinuses and a fever, colds are, quite simply, horrible.
And it doesn’t help when well-meaning friends and family offer their pearls of wisdom relating to how you ‘caught the cold’ or what to do to fight it, when much of their so-called knowledge is simply hearsay.
So, check out our quick guide to the myths and facts on the common cold...
On average, people have a cough or cold for the equivalent of two and a half years of their lives
ADVICE: FEED A COLD AND STARVE A FEVER
MYTH OR FACT? MYTH
Whether you have a straightforward common cold or something more extreme, you need to ensure you have plenty of nutrients in whatever form is manageable – chicken or vegetable soup are soothing and easily digestible.
ADVICE: YOU CAN CATCH A COLD BY GETTING WET OR COLD
MYTH OR FACT? MYTH
The only thing that can cause a cold or flu is a cold or flu virus - no-one succumbs by being caught in a downpour or going out without a coat on a chilly day.
However, if you are already carrying the virus, exposing yourself to extreme environmental conditions that challenge your body’s regulatory system may speed up the development of symptoms.
It is a myth that getting cold and wet can cause you to catch a cold - colds and flu are caused by viruses so to develop them you have to be exposed to the virus
ADVICE: YOU'VE JUST HAD A COLD, SO YOU'RE IMMUNE FOR A BIT
MYTH OR FACT? MYTH
There are around two hundred known types of cold virus, so the antibodies you generate to combat one won’t be effective in the fight against another.
ADVICE: AVOID KISSING IF YOU HAVE A COLD
MYTH OR FACT? MYTH
Common cold viruses are not spread by direct contact such as kissing, but are instead thought to move around via large particles expelled at close range by coughs and sneezes, and by contaminated fingers that pass the virus to the nose and eye.
SO HOW CAN YOU AVOID THE COMMON COLD?
Small children and adults in regular contact with children are most vulnerable to infection, so homes and schools are where the spread of the virus is most likely
Quite simply, you’d have to be a hermit to avoid the common cold. And for most of us, that isn’t a viable or an appealing proposition.
In modern Western society, common colds are so widespread that it is a rare being that escapes their impact.
In fact, it has been estimated that adults suffer two to five colds per year, and school children may suffer between seven and 10 colds each year.
Small children and adults in regular contact with children are most vulnerable to infection, so homes and schools are where the spread of the virus is most likely.
Occurrences are thought to be more common in cold weather because we tend to spend more time indoors, in poorly ventilated rooms and in close proximity to others, which means germs spread more easily.
So, the most effective way to avoid a common cold is to minimize the chance of the virus getting into your nasal cells, where they replicate and, in 75 per cent of cases, give their ‘landlord or landlady’ those annoying telltale symptoms.
HOW CAN YOU AVOID THE VIRUS TAKING HOLD?
- Maintain good levels of personal hygiene, washing hands thoroughly and regularly.
- Avoid being in close proximity with those showing the early signs of a cold – especially violent sneezing – in the first three days of their illness.
- Avoid touching ‘contaminated’ objects, used by those with a cold. For example, shared computer keyboards, TV remotes, phone handsets, door handles, toilet flushes and taps. Where possible, give them a clean with disinfectant wipes before use.
- Avoid touching your eyes, mouth and nose excessively. The cold virus can travel from fingertips via the tear duct into the nasal cavities and sinuses.
- Get plenty of rest and, in particular, sleep, so your body has the chance to repair cells and strengthen the immune system.
HOW TO SPOT THE EARLY SIGNS OF A COLD
One of the first symptoms of a common cold is often a dry, scratchy sore throat – possibly due to the virus first infecting the back of the nose.
One of the first symptoms of a common cold is often a dry, scratchy sore throat - possibly due to the virus first infecting the back of the nose. This tends to be followed by sneezing and a runny nose
Many people in the early stages of a cold also experience frequent sneezing, nasal irritation and clear, watery nasal fluid.
Headaches and muscular aches are commonly associated with influenza or bacterial infection, but can also be symptoms of a common cold, while fever (a body temperature over 38C or 100.4F) is uncommon in adults, but prevalent in infants and children with colds.
In most cases, a cough is usually a later symptom, and is caused by inflammation and infection of the larynx, trachea and lower airways.
The dry non-productive cough is related to inflammation of the upper airway and the productive chesty cough to inflammation of the lower airways.
HOW TO TREAT THE COMMON COLD
If you're having a hard time breathing due to a stuffy nose, a decongestant nasal spray, capsules or chest rub can often provide quick relief
The best strategy for minimizing the misery of a cold is to start treatment as soon as you see signs it is beginning and to continue treatment on a regular basis until it appears that the cold is over (three to seven days).
In the 1st century AD, Roman philosopher Pliny recommended that cold sufferers ‘kiss the hairy muzzle of a mouse’, but thankfully modern medicine offers more advanced methods of keeping symptoms at bay.
There is, unfortunately, no cure for the common cold – largely because of the vast number of different strains of the virus.
But there are ways you can relieve the symptoms and make yourself more comfortable.
If you’re having a hard time breathing due to a stuffy nose, a decongestant nasal spray, capsules or chest rub can often provide quick relief (always read the label).
Once dismissed as a ‘herbal medicine’, menthol - a natural cooling ingredient found in plants such as mint - is now recognised as an effective treatment therapy that helps relieve common cold symptoms.
Using menthol as part of a cold symptom treatment can help ease breathing and reduce coughing by interacting with cold receptors in the nose and throat.
Unless you’re diagnosed with a bacterial infection by a qualified health practitioner, avoid asking a GP to prescribe antibiotics for cold or flu symptoms.
Antibiotics are ineffective in treating viral infections such as cold and flu viruses, and overusing them can give rise to antibiotic-resistant germs. Antibiotics should be used as infrequently as possible and only as directed by your doctor.
HOW TO TREAT OTHERS WHO HAVE A COLD
The incubation period for a common cold is usually around two days before the first signs of any symptoms, and sufferers are most infective when sneezing, with a runny nose and cough.At this stage, the viruses are replicating in the nose and are dispersed in droplets of mucus.
If possible, avoid close contact with cold sufferers, but this isn’t always practical, especially if you are a parent or carer of small children.
It is estimated that 70 percent of people with a cold will carry cold germs on their hands, so encourage everyone in the house to wash their hands regularly, using soap to dislodge germs
Give them the space to rest without being near other family members, preferably in a comfortable armchair rather a shared sofa. Ensure they spend time sitting upright to help promote positive drainage (out of the nose, instead of down the throat).
At bedtime, elevate their head slightly to ease nasal congestion while they sleep. The increased angle may also help drain the sinuses and relieve sinus pressure.
A decongestant nasal spray, capsules or chest rub can often provide quick relief (always read the label).
It is estimated that 70 percent of people with a cold will carry cold germs on their hands, so encourage everyone in the house to wash their hands regularly, using soap to dislodge germs, and try to ensure infants don’t use clothing to wipe their noses.
Disposable paper tissues should be used and thrown away immediately by the person using them.
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