Common Cold
What
causes the common cold?
Viruses
do. There are over 100 different viruses that can cause colds.
Symptoms
of the common cold:
- Scratchy or sore throat
- Sneezing, runny/stuffy
nose
- Watery eyes
- Tenderness around the
eyes
- Full feeling in the
ears
- Cough: dry or with
white or clear mucus
- General tired feeling
- Fever below 101 degrees
- Mild headache
- Muscle and body aches
Methods
of transmission
A
cold virus can attack and multiply in cells that line the
nose and throat. You can catch a cold if you touch your eyes
or nose after touching the hand of an infected person or
touching a hard surface shortly after an infected person
touched it. This does not necessarily mean that you will
become infected. It
depends on your immune system and history of pervious exposure
to the virus. Young adults average 4-6 colds per year.
What
can I do to feel better?
There's
no cure for a cold. Antibiotics don't work against viruses.
All you can do to feel better is to treat your symptoms while
your body fights off the virus.
- Stay home and rest,
especially while you have a fever.
- Stop smoking and avoid
secondhand smoke, which can make symptoms worse.
- Drink plenty of fluids
like water, fruit juices and clear soups. Fluids help loosen
mucus. Fluids are also important if you have a fever because
fever can dry up your body's fluids, which can lead to dehydration.
- Don't drink alcohol.
- Gargle with warm salt
water a few times a day to relieve a sore throat. Throat
sprays or lozenges may also help relieve the pain.
- Use saline (salt water)
nose drops to help loosen mucus and moisten the tender skin
in your nose.
Should
I take medicine for a cold?
No
medicine can cure a cold or the flu. Medicine can, however,
help relieve some of your cold or flu symptoms.
- Runny
Nose/ Congestion: Runny nose and congestion
may be relieved by a decongestant (pseudo-ephedrine e.g. Sudafed),
but the common side effects are sleeplessness and decreased
appetite.
- Nasal
Sprays: Saltwater nasal sprays
(e.g. Nasal or Ocean) may ease nasal congestion and make mucus
less thick. Do not use medicated nasal sprays (e.g. Afrin)
without health care provider direction because excessive use
can cause dependence and may make congestion worse.
- Cough: Cough suppressants, dextromethorphan
(e.g. Robitussin DM), may be used if a cough is interfering
with sleep or work.
- Sore Throat: Lozenges and sprays containing
phenol (e.g. Cepastat, Chloraseptic), or dyclonine (e.g. Sucrets
Maximum Strength, Sucrets Throat Spray) are effective pain
relievers for sore throat. Gargling with warm salt water (one
teaspoon salt in a cup of hot water) 3-4 times a day may also
help ease sore throat pain by helping reduce swelling of the
tonsils and throat.
- Fever/Pain: It
will be helpful for you to use a fever/pain reducer such as
acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol) or ibuprofen (e.g. Advil). Be
sure to follow the instructions on the label and do not exceed
the daily limit.
What
preventative measures can I take?
- Wash your hands often
and avoid touching your face, eyes, nose and mouth.
- Use disposable tissues.
- Eat a well balanced,
healthy diet that includes plenty of citrus fruit and other
sources of vitamin C.
- Drink plenty of fluids.
- Get adequate sleep.
- Avoid prolonged contact
with people who have colds.
- Keep your stress level
down.
- Keep your room humidity
at moderate or high.
