Preventing Colds

Colds… separating fact from fiction

The Cold Truth: The common cold is a viral disease which infects the lining within your nose. It typically takes a week to recover, making it a fairly minor condition.. It is easily spread through germs that an already infected person has breathed into the air. Eliot Dick, Ph.D., a virologist and professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison says: Don’t blame the usual suspects:

• Sharing food or beverages with someone with a cold
• Kissing someone with a cold
• Not bundling up against the cold
• Sitting in a draft
• Stepping outside with a wet head

Blame the real carrier, a virus transmitted through the air. You can catch it, when a cold sufferer coughs, sneezes, or does a sloppy job of blowing his nose, sending the virus floating into your path.

Common Cold Trivia

• A cough releases an explosive charge of air that moves at speeds up to 60 mph.
• A sneeze can exceed the speed of 100 mph.
• With only 30 seconds of use, a handkerchief contains as many as 15,000 germs.
• Colds are caused by over 200 different viruses
• During the Spanish Flu of 1918 (the epidemic killed 20-40 million people worldwide) public gatherings were banned in some cities and breaking the ban resulted in a fine or jail time.

Stop snickering! Grandma’s favorite folk remedies really do work. Read on for more “cool” facts about keeping colds under wraps this winter.

• Chicken soup. The star of cold relief. Research published in the journal Chest revealed that this traditional cure-all is the most effective remedy to help you recover from a cold.
• Hot toddies and teas. According to Ron Eccles, director of the Common Cold Centre at Cardiff University, "Hot fluid has a demulcent and soothing action especially those containing slightly bitter flavors such as lemon and citric acid are particularly beneficial."
• Garlic. Allicin, an active compound in garlic, is known to act as a decongestant.
• Vitamin C. Linus Pauling, a chemist who lived to 93 years of age, nailed this one. Regular doses of vitamin C may cut an adult's cold duration in half and a child's by a day.
• Breathe steam. Steam liquefies and loosens mucus, allowing clearance of the airwaves that can relieve coughs and nasal congestion.
• Echinacea, et al. Studies show varying effectiveness of most Chinese herbs, and now the World Health Organization endorses Echinacea and millions of Chinese have been swearing by it for centuries.