Because there is no single virus responsible for the common cold, it's difficult to treat and easy to catch, especially because each type of virus flourishes in different conditions during different times of the year. That's part of the reason we have not come up with the elusive cure for this oh-so-common illness. Like all viruses, these little rascals are super sneaky and excessively smart. Once they infect someone, they start replicating new little friends. And once enough of them show up, they start causing the very symptoms that help them spread from person to person.
Every time the person coughs or sneezes, and thereby spreading mucus from the nose, the virus catches a free ride out of the body — the perfect mechanism for spreading viruses to others. This survival mechanism is to the virus's advantage. As the body's immune system fights back, evicting the freeloading virus from the body, some of its friends will live on, starting the cycle again in someone who came into contact with the infected person's secretions.
The common cold also has the distinction of being one of the primary reasons people go see their doctor during the winter season, said Dr. We seem to more frequently contract the common cold within the winter months, but you can actually get sick with it any time of year," said Dr. Unfortunately, the cold shares many symptoms with the flu and COVID, so patients may have concerns about what their actual diagnosis is.
For this reason, doctor offices are taking precautions. This ensures the safety of our patients, staff and community. Because people usually catch more colds during the winter, hence the name "cold," people assume that the cold weather is responsible for making them sick although most also seem aware that a virus is actually to blame. However, we can't completely dismiss the role weather may play in the uptick in illness.
For most other respiratory viruses, there are no treatments, so prevention and limiting transmission are key. The best things you can do are rest and get adequate fluids. Cover your coughs and sneezing. And stay home so you limit exposing others to the infection. If nothing else, it provides a variety of nutritional benefits, a fair amount of liquids, and it can be very soothing to take something warm.
I know I love it when I feel sick — along with ginger ale. It reminds me of when I was a kid. There are no downsides to it. Have you been hit by a cold or flu this season? Tell us about it on Facebook. Previously, she covered medicine and health policy for the Los Angeles Times, where she was part of a team that won a Pulitzer Prize for Public Service.
Follow her on Twitter Engel Donate Now. Hutch News Stories. Medical myth busting: Separating fact from fiction about colds and flu. We ask an infection prevention expert to bust myths and offer tips on staying healthy during cold and flu season. It's important to cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze, because research has shown that infectious particles can travel as far as 6 feet.
Stock photo by FeaturePics. He updated his advice from last year, took a strong stand on getting the flu vaccine and helped bust some common cold and flu myths, such as: 1. Can you catch a cold from being cold? Facebook Video component. So how long are people contagious? If you have just a mild cold, are you less infectious? What breakthroughs are coming next? Sign up for news. Hands are bad, right? How far does avoiding touching bathroom doors get you?
What about facial masks? Do they help at all? Here's what he had to say: The discussion around masks has changed dramatically over the last year and a half. Why do people often get a cold after flying on a plane?
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Please support lifesaving research today. Custom Donation Amount. Why does flu make some people sick, but not others? New study points to single mutations that allow flu to slip past immune system of some people, but not others August 27, Viruses that cause colds can spread from infected people to others through the air and close personal contact. You can also get infected through contact with stool poop or respiratory secretions from an infected person.
This can happen when you shake hands with someone who has a cold, or touch a surface, like a doorknob, that has respiratory viruses on it, then touch your eyes, mouth, or nose. Practice good cough and sneeze etiquette: always cough and sneeze into a tissue or your upper shirt sleeve, completely covering your mouth and nose.
There is no cure for a cold. To feel better, you should get lots of rest and drink plenty of fluids. Over-the-counter medicines may help ease symptoms but will not make your cold go away any faster. Always read the label and use medications as directed. Talk to your doctor before giving your child nonprescription cold medicines, since some medicines contain ingredients that are not recommended for children.
Learn more about symptom relief of upper respiratory infections, including colds. Antibiotics will not help you recover from a cold caused by a respiratory virus. They do not work against viruses, and they may make it harder for your body to fight future bacterial infections if you take them unnecessarily. Learn more about when antibiotics work.
You should also call your doctor right away if you are at high risk for serious flu complications and get flu symptoms such as fever, chills, and muscle or body aches. People at high risk for flu complications include young children younger than 5 years old , adults 65 years and older, pregnant women, and people with certain medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, and heart disease. Your doctor can determine if you or your child has a cold or the flu and can recommend treatment to help with symptoms.
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