The Common Cold
Published on Nov 26th, 2007 in Health with
Fall and winter are prime season for the common cold. Colds are annoyances that interfere with work, play, and our workouts. Wouldn’t it be great if we never caught a cold again? Well, there are some things you can do to decrease your chances of getting a cold as well as relieving the symptoms if you do happen to come down with one.
How are colds spread?
Colds are spread by touching an object (i.e. computer keyboard) or person (i.e. shaking hands) which is contaminated with cold viruses and then touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. You can also inhale cold viruses if someone close by coughs or sneezes in your direction.
Cold viruses love the warm, moist environment of your nasal passages. Once the viruses settle in there, they multiply and activate your body’s immune response. Your body’s cells secrete chemicals, such as histamine, which cause blood vessel dilation, mucus secretion, sneezing, stuffiness, and coughing.
How can we prevent colds?
Wash your hands - Handwashing is the best way to prevent cold, and it’s easy to do! Make sure you wash your hands thoroughly with soap (using antibacterial soap is unnecessary). Lather up your hands and rinse them well in warm water. If you use a public restroom, turn off the faucet with a clean paper towel. Open the door with a paper towel, as well.
Disinfect! - Cold viruses can live on surfaces for hours, so wipe down the phone, computer keyboard, and counter tops with disinfectant wipes, especially if these objects are shared.
Take care of yourself - Eat right, exercise, get restful sleep, and laugh a lot. Find ways to minimize your stress, such as through prayer, keeping a journal, talking with a good friend, listening to soothing music, taking a bubble bath, getting a massage, etc.
Maintain a hands-off policy - Keep your fingers off your face. Rubbing your eyes or scratching your nose is like giving cold viruses a free pass to your body!
Echinacea - Taking this herbal supplement may or may not boost your immune system. Some research states that echinacea doesn’t do much in the way of preventing or shortening colds; some studies say it can help. I personally have found that it has helped a little, whether this is a placebo affect or not!
Zinc Gluconate lozenges - Some studies show a decrease in the duration of a cold with the use of zinc gluconate lozenges. However, more research is needed to validate this conclusion. I’ve tried Cold-Eeze, and, while they don’t taste great, I have noticed a decrease in the duration of some colds. Again, maybe it’s just me! 
How can you shorten the duration of a cold?
The best medicine still is rest, fluids, and time. Allow yourself to take it easy and let your body focus on fighting the cold. This may mean taking a day or two off work.
Ibuprofen - Also known as Motrin, ibuprofen does 3 things: It decreases pain, fever, and swelling. If you don’t have any health conditions that prevent you from taking ibuprofen, this medication can be very helpful in relieving the pain of a sore throat and inflammation of the nasal passages (thus decreasing stuffiness).
Antihistamines - Antihistamines help relieve a sneezing, runny nose, and watery eyes - which are the result of histamine release. Examples of some antihistamines are Tavist, Dimetapp, or Chlor-Trimetron. Make sure you read the label and/or ask the pharmacist for assistance.
Be aware that antihistamines can make you feel drowsy, especially the ones listed above. Don’t drive a car or go to the executive meeting right after taking one!
Decongestants - Decongestants constrict the blood vessels in the nasal passages which, in turn, helps relieve that stuffy, congested feeling. Decongestant nasal sprays should not be used for more than a few days as they can lead to chronic swelling of the mucus membranes with use over time. Drinking lots of water, a humidifier, and saltwater nasal rinses can also help thin the mucus without the side effects of medication.
Gargling with salt water - This method is great for relieving a mucus-coated, sore throat. Put 1 teaspoon of salt into 1 cup of warm water (not hot) gargle away, and then spit it out. Do this several times throughout the day.
Vitamin C – The jury is still out on this one too. Taking over 2,000 mg of vitamin C a day is not recommended. Plus, your body only uses a certain amount of vitamin C in one day; the rest is excreted in the urine.
Grandma’s Chicken Soup – It won’t cure a cold, but this is a great way to feel better when you have one. The steam from the soup helps improve breathing, the warmth makes you feel comfortable. The soup’s broth, vitamins, and protein help thin mucus, keep you hydrated, and help the body repair.
Do your research - As with all medications and herbal supplements, make sure you read labels and know what you are putting in your body before doing so. If you have questions about these tips, make sure you speak with a trusted medical provider.
Have your own special cold remedies? Feel free to write them in the comments section. 
