Headache. Stuffy nose. Cough.
Fever. Itchy eyes. Sore throat. Muscle aches. If you're like most
people, you know the symptoms of the common cold all too well. Although
Americans spend billions of dollars annually on doctor visits and cold
remedies (everything from tissues and vitamin C to over-the-counter
decongestants and herbal teas), there is no cure for the common cold.
Fortunately, there are steps you can take to make your recovery easier.
In this article we'll discuss all aspects of the cold, including home
remedies, when you should call a doctor, and how to avoid passing on
your cold to innocent bystanders. To begin, we will discuss the origins
and causes of the common cold.
A cold is an upper respiratory infection
caused by any one of hundreds of different viruses. Unfortunately,
scientists haven't figured out how to wipe out these viruses. The body
has to rely on its own natural defenses.During a cold, virus particles
penetrate the mucous layer of the nose and throat and attach themselves
to cells there. The viruses punch holes in the cell membranes, allowing
viral genetic material to enter the cells.
Within a short time, the virus
takes over and forces the cells to produce thousands of new virus
particles.In response to this viral invasion, the body marshals its
defenses: The nose and throat release chemicals that spark the immune
system; injured cells produce chemicals called prostaglandins, which
trigger inflammation and attract infection-fighting white blood cells;
tiny blood vessels stretch, opening up space to allow blood fluid
(plasma) and specialized white cells to enter the infected area; the
body temperature rises, enhancing the immune response; and histamine is
released, increasing the production of nasal mucus in an effort to trap
viral particles and remove them from the body.As the battle against the
cold virus rages on, the body counterattacks with its heavy artillery:
specialized white blood cells called monocytes and lymphocytes;
interferon, often called the "body's own antiviral drug"; and 20 or more
proteins that circulate in the blood plasma and coat the viruses and
infected cells, making it easier for the white blood cells to identify
and destroy them.The symptoms you experience as a cold are actually the
body's natural immune response. In fact, by the time you feel like
you're coming down with a cold, you've likely already been infected for a
day and a half.
Once you are infected, however,
you can try to ease some of the aches and pains. In the next section, we
will review some home remedies for relieving cold symptoms. This information is solely for
informational purposes. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE.
Neither the Editors of Consumer Guide (R), Publications International,
Ltd., the author nor publisher take responsibility for any possible
consequences from any treatment, procedure, exercise, dietary
modification, action or application of medication which results from
reading or following the information contained in this information. The
publication of this information does not constitute the practice of
medicine, and this information does not replace the advice of your
physician or other health care provider. Before undertaking any course
of treatment, the reader must seek the advice of their physician or
other health care provider.
Drink Fluids
Fluids help thin the mucus, thus keeping it flowing freely and making it easier for the body to expel.
Image Credit: Digital Vision/Getty Images
Many people believe the old
adage, "Do nothing and your cold will last seven days. Do everything and
it will last a week." (Actually, it's not uncommon for a cold to last a
couple of weeks.) And, basically, it's true. But the following simple
home remedies may help you feel more comfortable and help your body heal
itself as quickly as possible, such as drinking plenty of fluids.
Fluids may help thin the mucus,
thus keeping it flowing freely and making it easier for the body to
expel, along with the viral particles trapped within it. Water and other
liquids also combat dehydration. So drink at least eight ounces of
fluid every two hours.
Rest
Getting extra rest will help your body recover faster.
Image Credit: James Darrell/Photodisc/Getty Images
Doctors disagree about whether or
not you should take a day or two off from work when you come down with a
cold. However, they do agree that extra rest helps. Staying away from
work may be a good idea from a prevention standpoint, too; your
coworkers will probably appreciate your not spreading your cold virus
around the office. If you do decide to stay home, forego those chores
and take it easy, read a good book, watch television, take naps.
You should probably also skip
your normal exercise routine when you've got a cold, at least during the
days when you're feeling the worst. Again, let your body be your guide.
If you're feeling miserable, the best advice is probably to just stay
in bed.
And while cold air doesn't cause
colds, you're likely to feel more comfortable if you stay indoors and
keep covered, especially if you have a fever. There's no sense in
stressing your body any further.
Chicken Soup
Chicken soup remedies aren't just myths.
Image Credit: John A. Rizzo/Getty Images
Science actually backs up what
your mom knew all along -- chicken soup does help a cold. It's one of
the most beneficial hot fluids you can consume when you have a cold.
Scientists believe it's the fumes in the soup that release the mucus in
your nose and help your body better fight against its viral invaders.
Chicken soup also contains cysteines, which are good at thinning mucus.
And the soup provides easily absorbed nutrients.
Honey
Make your own cough syrup with honey.
Image Credit: Gary S. Chapman/Getty Images
Make your own cough syrup by
mixing together 1/4 cup honey and 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar. Pour the
mixture into a jar or bottle and seal tightly. Shake well before using.
Take 1 tablespoon every four hours.
However, stay away from honey in
"hot toddies." While a hot alcoholic beverage might sound good when
you're feeling achy and stuffy, you're better off abstaining from booze,
which increases mucous-membrane congestion and is dehydrating.
Salt
Salt isn't just for the table.
Image Credit: Inti St. Clair/Photodisc/Getty Images
The inflammation and swelling in
the nose during a cold is caused by molecules called cytokines, or
lymphokines, which are made by the body as it fights the infection.
Research has shown that washing away these molecules can reduce
swelling. You can make your own saline drops or spray by adding 1/4
teaspoon salt to 8 ounces water. Fill a clean nasal-spray bottle or
dropper with the salt water and spray or drop into each nostril three or
four times. Repeat five to six times daily.
You can also make a saltwater
gargle for your sore throat with the same ratio of salt to water. Salt
is an astringent and helps relieve a painful throat.
A cup of hot tea with honey does
the same trick as chicken soup; it loosens up your nasal passages and
makes that stuffy nose feel better. Folk healers have known this secret
for centuries. They often suggest drinking tea with spices and herbs
that contain aromatic oils with antiviral properties. Try tea with
elder, ginger, yarrow, mint, thyme, horsemint, bee balm, lemon balm,
catnip, garlic, onions or mustard.
The steam from a vaporizer can
loosen mucus, especially if the mucus has become thick. (You can get a
similar effect by draping a towel over your head and bending over a pot
of boiled water; just be careful not to burn yourself.)
A humidifier will add moisture to
your immediate environment, which may make you feel more comfortable
and will keep your nasal tissues moist. That's helpful because dry nasal
membranes provide poor protection against viral invasion.
Dry nasal passages are prime
breeding grounds for the cold virus. Although doctors typically
recommend saline nose drops during the winter to keep nasal passages
moist, a recent study compared saline drops to sesame oil. The people
who used sesame oil had an 80 percent improvement in their nasal dryness
while the people who used traditional saline drops had a 30 percent
improvement. While it may not be a good idea to shoot sesame oil up your
nose (it could get into the lungs), try rubbing a drop around the
inside of your nostrils.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C can help boost your immune system.
Image Credit: TS Photography/Photographer's Choice/Getty Images
Vitamin C won't prevent a cold,
but it may help once you have a cold. Although it remains a
controversial idea, some research suggests that vitamin C can help boost
the immune system and reduce the length and severity of symptoms. But
to reap the benefits, you've got to take a lot of "C." The RDA for men
and women age 15 and older is 60 mg, but studies show that you'd need to
take upward of 1,000 mg to 3,000 mg to get the cold-symptom-sparing
rewards of vitamin C. For the short term, experts believe that wouldn't
be harmful, but taking too much vitamin C for too long can cause severe
diarrhea. Before loading up on vitamin C, check with your doctor.
Studies have found that zinc may
help immune cells fight a cold and may ease cold symptoms. The most
effective zinc lozenges are those that contain 15 to 25 mg of zinc
gluconate or zinc gluconate-glycine per lozenge. You can get the most
out of your zinc lozenges if you start using them at the first sign of a
cold and continue taking them for several days.
While colds are here to stay --
for now -- you don't have to be totally at their mercy. Thankfully,
there are some safe home remedies like these to ease your symptoms once
you're sick.
For more remedies and cold tips, see the links on the next page. This information is solely for
informational purposes. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE.
Neither the Editors of Consumer Guide (R), Publications International,
Ltd., the author nor publisher take responsibility for any possible
consequences from any treatment, procedure, exercise, dietary
modification, action or application of medication which results from
reading or following the information contained in this information. The
publication of this information does not constitute the practice of
medicine, and this information does not replace the advice of your
physician or other health care provider. Before undertaking any course
of treatment, the reader must seek the advice of their physician or
other health care provider.
Hot and spicy foods are notorious
for making your nose run and your eyes water. The hot stuff in peppers
is called capsaicin and is pharmacologically similar to guaifenesin, an
expectorant found in some over-the-counter cough syrups. This similarity
leads some experts to believe that eating hot foods can clear up mucus
and ease that stuffy nose.
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