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The
suitably named common cold is the most frequent infection in
all age groups. Cold symptoms are triggered when a virus attaches
itself to the lining of your nasal passages or throat. Your
immune
system responds by attacking the germ with white blood cells
called neutrophils. If your immune system cannot recognize the
virus, the response is 'no-specific', meaning your body produces
as many neutrophils as possible (usually more than are needed)
and circulates them to the infected sites. This all-out attack
kills many viruses but it doesn't affect the 200 or so viruses
that cause colds. Extra neutrophils clumping together at infection
sites is what causes the aches and inflammation of a cold, complete
with vast amounts of mucous in the nose and throat.
Cold symptoms settle in between one and four days after you
are infected by a cold virus and typically last for about three
days. At that point the worst is over, but you may feel congested
for a week or more. During the first three days that you have
symptoms, you are contagious (meaning you can pass the cold
to others) so take preventive measures.
Conventional and alternative medicine seek the same ends; to
make it as easy as possible for your body to fight the cold
virus while alleviating the aches and congestion as much as
possible. Adequate rest at the beginning is key to cold recovery;
you may need 12 hours or more of sleep per 24 hours while you're
fighting the cold (or you may contact other illnesses more easily
in your weakened condition). Drinking water is also very important
(see our water consumption article). Mucous flows freely in a well-hydrated body, helping
you to avoid or recover from infection; and healthy and moist
tissues are harder for a virus to infect than dry tissues.
If you have a fever you body is using 'heat' to help kill the
virus. Giving medication to lower a fever can actually undermine
your body's defense efforts. However, a temperature of over
103ºF warrants an immediate call to your physician.
Pregnant or nursing mothers should check with their doctor before
using any type of cold therapy, including over the counter drugs
and any type of herbal remedy.
No specific treatment exists for the actual virus that is causing
your cold, but in treating the symptoms you may find some relief.
Because it is a viral disease, it does not respond to antibiotics.
Aspirin and acetaminophen may make congestion worse. Never give
aspirin to a child with a fever; if you must give acetaminophen
instead. Reye's syndrome, a neurological disease that can cause
coma, brain damage and death has (only rarely) been linked to
aspirin use in children aged 4-15. If your throat is sore gargle
with salt water (1/2 tsp salt in 1 cup of water).
It's very tempting to succumb to an advertiser's claims and
try one of the many over the counter 'cold and flu' preparations,
but think twice. These multi-symptom drugs likely contain medications
for symptoms you don't have, and therefore may result in needless
over-treatment. Avoid them entirely for children under 13; even
those cold medications marketed especially for children don't
often work for this age group, and the drugs commonly induce
drowsiness, which may slow the healing process.
Over the counter decongestants can initially help break up nasal
congestion, but only temporarily. If these drugs are taken regularly
for more than 4 or 5 days your body may 'rebound' from them
and produce even more mucous and worse congestion. They may
also increase blood pressure and heart rate (sometimes alarmingly
so). Do not take them without first checking with your doctor
if you have heart disease, high blood pressure, prostrate or
kidney problems, diabetes or thyroid problems.
Over the counter cough suppressants can occasionally be helpful
if your cough is severe enough that it completely interferes
with sleeping or talking. Otherwise, allow yourself to cough
as you need to (covering your mouth as you do to not infect
others), because coughing removes mucous and germs from your
throat and lungs.
Over the counter antihistamines can temporarily make breathing
easier, but at a cost; they clear the nose by drying it up,
making nasal mucous thicker and much harder to drain.
Time is of the essence: begin to treat your cold as soon as
you feel the first symptom. An early response often results
in a faster, more natural and comfortable recovery period.
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Influenza -'the flu'- is an extremely
contagious viral disease that appears most frequently in
the winter and spring. The infection spreads through your
upper respiratory tract and sometimes goes right into your
lungs. The virus typically sweeps through large groups of
people who share space, such as schools, working environments
and nursing homes.
Although both colds and influenza stem from viruses that
infect the upper respiratory tract, the symptoms of influenza
are more pronounced and its complications more severe. A
runway case of influenza can develop into a more serious
illness, such as pneumonia.
The infamous Spanish Flu of 1918 killed 20 million people
worldwide. There have been two other pandemics (epidemics
that spread over huge geographical areas) since then, in
1957 and 1968. Experts say another pandemic is inevitable,
which no vaccine can prevent.
Both the cold and flu are caused by viruses, which are infectious
micro-organisms that invade your body and can make you sick.
You catch these bugs by inhaling water droplets in the air
from the breath of an infected person, who spews them out
every time he or she exhales, coughs, or sneezes. Cold and
flu viruses can roost on inanimate objects too. Turn a contaminated
doorknob or use a co-workers pencil before touching your
lips, and you can become infected. So wash your hands
regularly with anti-bacterial soap and use a paper towel
or your elbow to shut the off the water to avoid recontamination.
The flu vaccine isn't perfect. Since there are so many strains
of influenza raging around the world at any given time it
would be impossible to concoct a super-vaccine that could
protect against all of them. The World Health Organization
tries to determine which three strains may be likely to
cause widespread illnesses in the coming flu season and
inform drug companies so they can prepare new vaccines.
Sometimes a new flu virus appears, seemingly from nowhere,
that the previously developed vaccine cannot protect against.
A healthy immune
system will usually resist the most virulent of colds
and flu with ease. Stress and impoverished overall health
will cause a person to be more susceptible to recurring
flu and colds, making the convalescence period (natural
recovery time) longer then normal. Getting cold and wet
will also encourage infection. The immune system can become
rundown from not eating enough wholesome and raw foods,
as well as a lack of fresh air or daily physical activity.
It's always a good idea to start building a strong immune
system in the summer and early fall before the cold, wet
season starts. This is a perfect time to cleanse
the gastrointestinal tract and liver
of built-up toxins and wastes.*
Also consider the use of a daily
liquid multivitamin complex, which provides essential
nutrients that can help keep your immune system strong.
This will allow you to enter the cold and flu season with
less stress on your immune system, which can give you a
great advantage over others who have not.
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