Colds: Mystery and truth

Summer is over. Schools, strong winds and yellow leaves are inevitable. Is that true for colds?

Most adults have a cold 2 to 4 times a year and for children, that number is double. Despite his name, the cause of the cold is not the cold weather but the warm person. The only way to make sure you never get the cold virus, according to Jack Gwaltney, a cold expert at the University of Virginia, is 'becoming a priest'.

But capturing some rare facts about colds can help you enjoy Patty Halloween and holy holidays without sneezing.

Kiss but don't shake hands

Here are some measures to help prevent colds

Wash your hands often - lots of people don't do that. Use soap, more effective than alcohol hand sanitizers. It's important to rub evenly, for about 15 seconds.

Do not rub your eyes and do not kiss Eskimo-style, but you can absolutely cuddle your beloved lover. Cold viruses like the eyes and nose but rarely pass through the mouth, Gwaltney said. So if a quick kiss makes you happier, it will be more useful than harmful.

Overreaction

Colds are a sign that the body is fighting infection, in which many symptoms, such as congestion, are an overreaction of the body. The effects of treatments are still controversial, but cold treatments generally try to shorten or prevent unnecessary reactions.

Antihistamines may be effective, but there are many conflicting opinions about the use of this drug and other treatments.One thing will definitely work: Wash your hands often and you won't get colds.(Photo: Dreamstime)

Gwaltney advises starting treatment at the first sign of a cold because 'the immune system reacts very quickly, and once it starts it is difficult to stop . ' He also suggested that first generation antihistamines (older types, such as Dimetapp, make you sleepy) and anti-agitation drugs, such as ibuprofen, should be used until all symptoms stop. .

However, there are many contradictory opinions about treatments. Mayo Hospital for women thinks that antihistamines should not be used because it dries the nasal membrane and slows the flow of mucus to help you remove germs in your nose

Decogestants have a decongestant effect, according to Mayo Hospital. They push swollen tissues into the nose. However, decongestant sprays or drops can worsen nasal congestion if used more than 2 or 3 days.

Chicken soup, or any kind of soup, may be helpful, as the liquid helps to circulate mucus, which causes the nose to become blocked. Moisture also works to reduce nasal congestion.

Wait

Most treatments today target cold symptoms, not infections. The future of cold therapy may depend on anti-inflammatory, antihistamine and antiviral drugs, Gwaltney said. Antiviral drugs are being tested but there are still no products available on the market.

Making preventive vaccines is less feasible. Rhino virus, the most common cause of colds, has more than 100 different states. Immunity to one type cannot disable other types

Gwaltney said that every battle with colds makes us less vulnerable - allowing many people to get old without getting runny nose when they get old. On the other hand, studies on mice that show a frequent cold can make memory impairment worse.