Kathryn Jean Lucas, MD
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Morehead City, North Carolina 28557

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HOW TO ESCAPE A WINTER COLD

The following questions were asked of two respiratory researchers, Elliott Dick and Jack Gwaltney.  The entire article appeared in The November/December issue of Health Magazine.

What’s the best thing I can do to escape a cold this winter?

• Keep your nose clean.  If the cold virus does not make it into your nose, it cannot make you sick

• Keep your hands away from your nose and eyes.  Train yourself to keep your hands below your chin

• Wash your hands often, preferably with an antibacterial soap

• Move away from people who are coughing and sneezing.  If you are the one with the cold, cover your mouth with a disposable tissue, not a handkerchief.

Should I take vitamin C and other supplements?

Probably a good idea.  Several studies have shown that vitamin C can shorten the symptoms and duration of a cold.  One 500mg tablet taken four times a day is sufficient.  Echinacea, an herb, has been tested in German studies, which have backed up the herb’s claim of stimulating the immune system.  Zinc lozenges, dissolved under the tongue, are said to help, but the jury is still out.

Can my toothbrush reinfect me?

Not likely, unless you do some strange things with your toothbrush!  Remember, to cause a cold, the virus must get into your nose.  So few viruses cause colds that there is no real good reason to disinfect your toothbrush.  Once you have a cold, you have antibodies to protect you against that particular virus.

How risky is it to be around people with colds?

Less risky than you might think. Twenty minutes exposure to someone with a cold, or even a couple of hours at a movie, should not pose much of a threat, assuming you are not in the line of fire of coughing and sneezing.  All day in an office of coughers or several hours in an airplane is another matter.  Remember to wash your hands and keep them away from your nose and eyes.

Do cold viruses lurk on household surfaces?

Yes, for several hours.  However, you need not be a fanatic about disinfecting every surface.  Just be sure to wash your hands and use tissues to prevent spraying.

What if I catch a cold anyway?  What should I do?

Get as much sleep as you can to jeep the immune system humming.  Drink plenty of liquids, especially, water, to loosen mucus and carry away the debris of infection.  Treat individual symptoms like this:

• Stuffy nose: Try decongestant nasal sprays containing oxymetazoline. But only for a night or two.  After that, rebound swelling can stop you up even worse.

• Sneezing: antihistamines (benadryl, Claritin, seldane, etc.) Reduce sneezing and runny nose about 50%

• Cough: over the counter cough suppressants containing dextromethorphan or diphenhydramine work by soothing the brain’s cough center.  The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, Advil, Aleve, Nuprin also reduce coughing by interfering with prostaglandins.  Use the minimal doses recommended on the labels.  Diabetic patients should remember to ask for sugar-free preparations.

• Sore throat: gargle with war salt water- one teaspoon in a glass of warm water.  It reduces inflammation and cleans postnasal drip out of your throat.

How can I be sure I have a cold and not an allergy or the flu?

It’s a matter of degree.  Colds usually come on gradually over a coupe of days with worsening symptoms of slight sore throat, nasal and head congestion, slight chills and aches, with a fever that likely won’t go over 100 degrees.  Allergy can feel like a cold, but usually does not produce fever.  Mucus remains clear to white or pale yellow.  Influenza strikes fast with fever and aching, mainly in the upper back.  Fever can hit the 101 to 104 range.  Many people recall the exact hour they were taken ill.  Other symptoms can include runny nose, headache, eye pain and sensitivity to light, diarrhea and vomiting.

Will chicken soup help?

It would appear to be true.. Cooking the chicken releases cystine, which thins out mucus and makes it easier to expel.  Add hot, spicy ingredients as well as garlic to enhance that effect.

When is a cold most infectious?

For the first three days from the time the symptoms start.  By the fourth day, your immune system has kicked in and you pose much less danger to others.

How long should I expect my cold to last?

Most people are completely over a cold’s symptoms within ten days.  But, a cold can last for several weeks.

What else should I do?

Keep a positive attitude, stay cheerful, rent funny movies.  Research has shown that the more positive the attitude, the less the chance of catching a cold in the first place and the less severe the symptoms.

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