Health Feature Articles
Dealing with a side-effect of winter: the common cold
Janet Hackert, regional nutrition and health education specialist, Northwest Region, University of Missouri Extension
There are more than 200 viruses that can cause the common cold. No wonder it seems to be a side-effect of winter! Symptoms may vary: runny or stuffy nose, itchy or sore throat, cough, congestion, slight body aches or a mild headache, sneezing, watery eyes, low-grade fever (up to 102°F), or mild fatigue. According to the Mayo Clinic web site, the difference between a common cold and other viral infections is that there is not usually a high fever or extreme fatigue with the common cold.
Being viral, the common cold has no cure as such, but there
are ways to deal with the symptoms. If at all possible, get
the rest your body needs to heal itself. If possible, stay
away from other people, especially if you have a cough. If
you must be around others, reduce the chance of infection by
coughing into a sleeve and washing hands frequently,
especially after blowing your nose. The room of the sick
person should be warm, but not overheated. Keeping it
humidified can also help ease congestion and coughing. A
cool-mist humidifier or vaporizer is best, and be sure it is
kept clean to avoid mold and bacterial growth.
An eating plan for someone who has a common cold can also
make a difference. Include lots of water, juice, tea and
warm soup to replace fluids lost by a runny nose and fever.
Try chicken soup. According to the Mayo Clinic web site,
research has shown that this helps relieve cold symptoms by
acting as an anti-inflammatory. It also, “temporarily speeds
up the movement of mucus through the nose, helping relieve
congestion and limiting the time the viruses are in contact
with the nasal lining.”
To soothe a sore throat or cough, try gargling with warm
salt water several times a day. This can bring some relief
to symptoms. Drinking honey mixed into warm lemon water or
tea is another home remedy. A 2007 study showed that
children two years old and older who were given up to two
teaspoons of honey before bed had less nighttime coughing
and improved sleep about as effective as typical
over-the-counter doses of the cough suppressant
dextromethorphan. Warning: do not give honey to children
under the age of one as it may cause infant botulism.
Last Updated 05/05/2009
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