Treating a common cold is quite simple but there are a lot of myths about treatment or even how you got the cold and how to prevent it.
Remember there is no cure only symptom relief.
Symptoms of the common cold include:
- runny or stuffy nose
- coughing, sneezing, or sniffling
- mild body aches
- mild headaches
- general feeling of illness
So skip the googling as like the cold these myths are pretty common.
#1 - If you don't wrap up warm you'll get a cold.
A common cold is caused by a virus that you will get with or without your coat on, not wrapping up warm will make no difference at all.
I think the name 'cold' makes this one easier to believe as a truth.
But why then are colds more common in winter ?
The reason they are more common in winter is purely through close contact of people. People stay in doors more in winter allowing the virus to spread between people more easily.
#2 Chicken soup.
Ahh, good old chicken soup unfortunately it is not a magical cure for a cold. However the steam could help and the vitamins are good but not good enough to have much of an effect on your cold. It is yummy though and there is nothing like home cooked food for comfort while you are ill. So eat all the chicken soup you like you may as well have nice food while you are ill - if you can taste it that is.
#3 Wet hair.
As a cold is a virus going out on a cold day with wet hair will have no effect what so ever. It certainly won't be the cause of a cold. In fact I use this while having a cold to cool me down when my temperature soars.
#4 Vitamin C.
This one surprised me the most. Normally when I get a cold I get some honey, lemon and some Vitamin C. While honey and lemon do help with symptoms it has been proven that Vitamin C has no effect on the common cold. Though if you do take Vitamin C daily it may reduce the severity of your cold slightly if you should get one.
#5 Sweating it out.
Sorry, this one is a myth too. You can not sweat out a cold and you will just make yourself extra hot and extra sweaty for no reason. Though you may get hot and sweaty while having a cold, being hot does not actually help cure you cold.
Facts:
- Coughs and sneezes spread diseases. Yes that good old rhyme is true, to prevent spreading the cold virus sneezing into tissues, throwing them away and washing your hands will prevent spreading the common cold.
- How common is common ? On average, adults have about two to four colds a year. Children have three to eight as their immune system is more vulnerable to infection.
- Steam inhalation. Sitting over a bowl of hot water with a towel on your head will help ease your symptoms.
- More than 200 types of virus can cause a cold. Now it makes sense of how common is it , no wonder!
All is not lost.
There are still a number of things that you can use, not to cure but to ease symptoms of the common cold.
Honey - great for soothing sore throats.
Steam - helps for congestion.
Vapour rub - again helps for congestion.
Fluids - replenish the water lost from sweating, dehydration will only make you feel worse.
Rest - giving your body time to rest up is important.
Salt water (adults) - gargling salt water can help reduce the pain and swelling in the throat.
Colds normally last around a week. Sometimes more, sometimes less. You will be back to yourself in no time.
When to see a GP - (Taken from the NHS website)
You only really need to see your GP if:
- your symptoms persist for more than three weeks
- you have a high temperature (fever) of 39°C (102.2°F) or above
- you cough up blood-stained phlegm (thick mucus)
- you feel chest pain
- you have breathing difficulties
- you experience severe swelling of your lymph nodes (glands) in your neck and/or armpits
If you are reading this because you are ill, I hope you are better soon ! xx
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