Winter is on its way (to the Northern Hemisphere) and with it comes myths of the common cold. We all grow up with a variety of beliefs about the common cold that often differ from home to home, but the fact is, most of them are wrong. With this list we will help to educate everyone about the myths relating to the cold and flu and hopefully help us to be better prepared to cope with it in future.
We have all done it – or at least seen others do it: covering up with extra blankets, sticking your head over a bowl of hot water – all in the hopes that we will sweat the cold out. Unfortunately, this does not work – it is completely ineffective. The only benefit this may have is to make you feel a little better (because it addresses the symptoms).
This is a particularly odd myth – many people believe that you can catch a flu from the flu injection. This myth comes about from the misconception that the flu vaccine contains a weakened form of the flu virus. The vaccine actually includes only components of the virus, and not a complete version of it. Therefore, you won’t catch the flu from a flu shot.
A weakened immune system does not heighten the risks of catching a cold. Healthy and unhealthy people exhibit the same amount of susceptibility to colds in studies that have been done. Interestingly, the same study found that 95% of people who had the cold virus directly applied to their nasal membranes became infected, but only 75% of them exhibited any symptoms of the cold. This is called an “asymptomatic infection”.
It is a myth that loads of vitamin c and zinc help to stave off (or cure) a cold. While it is often a good idea to take vitamin and mineral supplements, they have no effect on the cold virus. Once the cold hits, you are better off taking painkillers and waiting it out.
Myth: most colds are caught in the Winter. Fact: most colds are caught in the Spring/Fall seasons and not Winter at all. This is because the virus becomes much more active in those seasons and seems to become largely dormant in the Winter.
A lot of people think that drinking milk while you have a cold is a bad idea because it causes more mucous to build up. Actually, milk does not cause a build up of mucous at all – you can drink as much of it as you like and it will have no effect on your cold.
There is a popular myth that kissing a person with a cold will cause you to catch it. The reality is that the quantity of virus on the lips and mouth are miniscule and a much larger dose would be required for you to become infected. It is the nasal mucous you have to worry about – so no nose-kissing.
I bet most people here have been told, at one time or another, not to go out with wet or damp hair, or to wrap up warm so you don’t catch cold. In fact, the body temperature (or ambient temperature) makes no difference at all. You catch a cold when you come into contact with the cold virus – once the virus gets into your system you will get sick. It doesn’t matter if you are hot, cold, warm, or dry.
Many people believe that the symptoms of a cold (running nose, coughing etc.) are designed to help us get over the sickness quickly – therefore they don’t believe that we should treat the symptoms with medicines. But the truth is that the symptoms not only make no difference to the duration of the cold, they can help spread the bug to other people – through noseblowing and coughing. You should take comfort in knowing that pain killers and other cold medicines will not only make the illness more tolerable, they will help to keep it contained.
I am sure that everyone has heard the phrase “starve a fever, feed a cold.” The fact is, it is completely untrue. Eating has no negative impact on the body when you are sick, in fact, the opposite is true. Food provides the body with fuel to cope with illness – so when we are sick, it is a good idea to eat healthy and well. I recommend a good bowl of chicken soup for a start!
Hello from the QI elves.
Nice list, but with one caveat.
The Common Cold Centre, at Cardiff University – the world’s only centre dedicated to researching and testing new medicines for the treatment of common cold – found in 2005 that being cold can increase your chance of getting a cold.
Researchers took 180 volunteers and asked half of them to keep their bare feet in icy water for 20 minutes 29% of cold-footed volunteers developed a cold within five days, compared with only 9% of those with warm tootsies.
On number 9, I got my flu shot for 5 straight years. Every single time i would get the flu less than 10 days later. Since, I have not gotten the flu shot in the past 3 years. And wouldn’t you know it, I haven’t gotten the flu in 3 years!!! I think more tesing is needed on that one!!
A good list except for the kissing one which is not a myth.
Kissing does transmit colds…
a) If it were nasal secretions, sinuses join to the mouth and in a cold mucus flows in all directions. That’s often how a head cold turns to a cough (post-nasal dripping).
b) If it were nasal secretions then someone coughing on you wouldn’t spread it (which it does).
c) Colds spread through offices through proximity in small rooms and air conditioning. If you can catch a cold just being close to someone’s breathing, you can catch it by being face to face kissing.
d) you can catch someone’s cold sharing a glass with someone who’s got it (“wanna taste of this?”). That’s a saliva transference same as kissing.
Also i’ve heard from some studies (like 61. eggshaped above) while being cold can’t give you a virus. Being cold lowers you metabolism and body temp. And a lower metabolism affects how your systems perform – immune system included.
Once I missed out on the flu shot and it was the only time I ever got the flu. I guess different things work on different people differently.
BOUNS ONE: OBAMA HUG CAN CURE A COLD
of course it can , his black !.
DK mentioned it…ZINC! First sign of a cold, and I’m taking those nasty zinc lozenges. They work for me. Either I don’t get the cold or I hold off the severity. Try it!
I’ve already denounced a lot of these myths that my mother forced upon me as a child because I’m not five anymore and because GIMME THE *****ING PAINKILLERS!! AHARHRHRRHGHGHGH!!, but I still feel cheated.
I always seemed to think that sugar was one of those things you should avoid while you have a cold. I did a quick google, like 5 seconds, checked the top few results, and it seems that’s a “natural remedy” too.
Not only has zinc been clinically proven to reduce symptoms and duration of the cold, I’ve been using it with my last 3 colds or so, and the cold is always gone in 3 days or less, as opposed to the week I used to suffer.
LOL
No nose kissing…
Cracks me up
We actually learned about sickness in my health psychology class just recently. We learned you actually are more susceptible to illness when your immune system is compromised – that’s why when, after a period of stress, you are likely to get sick. Your defenses aren’t that good at fighting the illness so you get sick. And we learned one other thing I thought was interesting: unless your fever is high, you shouldn’t take any medication that might reduce it (Tylenol, etc.) because the fever creates a climate in your body that is not friendly to illness. But keep a close eye on your temperature don’t let your fever get too high – ever 105 degrees can cause brain damage!
Tequila sunrises, margaritas and mango rum with pineapple juice are all great for colds, too
cugirl, For the temperature, I think you are thinking bacteria, I dont think it applies for viruses.
Also, the susceptibility means a cold is more serious to people with weak immune systems, however, you dont have a larger chance of getting it.
just curious but could the whole thing about vitamin c, when people claim that it helps, be an extention of the placebo affect?
*****, I believed in about 8 of these.
where did you get all this information?
I’m with the others calling shenanigans on Number 9. The only time I’ve ever had a flu shot in my life, I got the worst flu I’ve ever experienced (you know, the type where at one stage you border on considering taking yourself to A&E).
When I went back to the doc, she said that flu shots are really only for the most susceptible – the elderly, the ill and young children. She said that most doctors she knows get annoyed with blanket advertising for “Get Your Flu Shot” – perfectly healthy people don’t need it.
As for Vitamin C, my husband and I decided to try an experiment – do prolonged periods on and off VitC tablets. Guess the times we didn’t get sick.
I Believe that most markets are looking into gaining money during times where the flu is most rampant which leads them to market products such as echinacea and other vit C pills and our gullibility and need for a ‘cure’ would lead us to believe that these things work. For example I highly doubt that when anyone has a cold they would solely live on vit C pills or whiskey or anything else mentioned in the comments, it very well may be a combination of things such as keeping warm, dry, relaxed, and the pills or whatever that truly works. also about the flu shot, I never have had one yet still manage to get the flu and i also manage not to get it, the reason that many people get the flu after the shot may be that their immune systems are weakened and due to the high level of people wanting to take the shot at the same time and being in the same place will of course make you more susceptible to it. Imagine how many young children have been in the waiting room that you have been sitting in for the past however long that have quite happily coughed and sneezed over every single surface in that room?. This small dose of the flu you are getting in the waiting room coupled with the flu from the shot would make it easier to catch it.
P S This is what part of the alphabet would look like if Q and R were eliminated! Mitch Hedberg Rocks! Look him up on Youtube! Thank you for reading my utterly and quite possibly wrong opinion.
i knew some of these
What about the one that says changing from cold to warm temperatures gives you colds? I don’t believe it but i hear people say it all the time.
For immune system boosting with herbs, take Echinacea and Goldenseal together! Echinacea by itself is not nearly as effective as the two together. You can find an Echinacea/Goldenseal combination pill.
A very interesting fact:
According to research, the BEST way to prevent a cold is to keep the nose warm. This can be as simple as rubbing lip-chap cream on the end of it. This is because the cold virus doesn’t like warm temperatures.
As for beating a cold, I swear by HOT CURRY every time.
Good list. It’s a good thing to remember, though, that oftentimes when we think we just have a cold, we actually may have a bacterial sinus infection. Therefore, avoid kissing!
Hah, I’d already learned all of these because I get such bad colds…
Putting your hands on a surface that contains the virus and then touching your hands to your nose or mouth will get you a cold. Also (especially if you work in an office) a telephone will get you too.
So wash your hands and keep your phone wiped off.
Your mom telling you that going out into the cold weather will make you sick is the dumbest ***** ever.
85. Mac:…Your mom telling you that going out into the cold weather will make you sick is the dumbest ***** ever.
****
Ah, they mean well.
When my kids were babies, our pediatrician gave me some great advice: Never dress your children warmer than you need to be dressed yourself.
Of course, my mum and mum-in-law had plenty to say about *that* piece of advice! But I stuck to my guns and lo and behold! the kids didn’t get sick.
Flu shots can’t give you the flu, but they can give you a fever and make you feel like ***** for half a day. In the marine corps they give you this nasal gel (no needles, so easier disposal) that you snort into both nostrils and hold it there for a lil bit, then you blow it all out. That ***** lays you out for nearly 24 hours and you feel like crap.
The truth about WHY we are supposed to starve a fever is more generically related to the fact that fevers are often associated with a variety of flu viruses, many of which cause diarrhea and/or vomiting. You are supposed to limit the food intake to help reduce the incidence of these two nasty symptoms. You need to let the virus run its course, and then you can begin increasing food intake again until you are back to normal. Most of the time, people don’t feel hungry anyway (especially when spending so much time on/over the potty), so starving the fever is not such an ordeal. After 1-3 days of eating very little (sometimes even reduced fluids intake), the majority of people are on the mend and begin eating/drinking regular food again.
As for the whole question of when so many people start getting sick, did anyone ever stop to think that the fall is when all the kids go back to school? One kid makes 3 family members sick during the summer, but makes 20 fellow students sick in the fall…who then pass it on to their families… the major strains run their course during the next 2-3 months, and then winter hits (yes, winter does slow things down due to dormancy and reduced rate of transmission)… followed by spring when kids are out and about again, involved in all sorts of spring activities and sports, spreading the viruses anew.
My friend I have to disagree. If I sleep in a cold house I will get a head cold. I was driving around with my idiot brother and a friend who had their windows open, freezing me out. I got a SEVERE cold the next day. Vitamin C in MASSIVE quantities, helps enormously – especially if you take it every day. I was completely healthy, got a flu shot based on a Dr’s recommendation. Two days later I got the flu. I have never gotten a shot since, and I have not gotten the flu either.
This list gave me the cold
Not had a cold since I stopped touching door handles, lift buttons etc anything that can be touched in public by numerous people. Toilet doors being the ‘biggie’. I could have taught Howard Hughes a thing or two I can tell you!
omg lol
The best cure for the common cold, and this has *always* worked for me is *don’t get one*!
Seriously, I haven’t had a cold in 15 years, at least.
I always find that milk makes my throat all icky, so I assumed the milk one was true. Ok ok I thought A LOT of these were true. I guess the worst that could happen with going out in the cold with wet hair is a headache or hypothermia.
Skeptic is good. Most things generally accepted are usually myths. Just like this list, and my mom believes in all ten of them, and I used to believe that having an electric fan’s air hit my back just as soon as I took a shower causes colds.
Some are wrong.
It has been proven that cooler air flowing through the nostrils will lessen the amount of blood going the vessels closest to the surface. It is the same with goose-bumps on skin when exposed to cold. The blood will be lessened to reduce heat loss, so the skin actually shrinks.
So, less blood means less protective components of blood flowing pass a given surface spot at any one time inside the nose giving bugs a chance (although rare) to proliferate, hence, you may get a cold.
Science wins again.
Another one is false.
Sweating it out is the tried and tested way to kill off germs, but not the way shown in the pic.
Want to get rid of the flu?
Have a tolerable very hot shower (drink the hot water as well), dress with lots of winter clothes, jump into bed, and cook yourself.
Drinking the shower water will help immensely with the sweat production. Sweat = body is overheating = good. If your going into heat stress the virii (viruses) are very intolerant of high temps and will die in huge numbers.
Note: sweat does not remove the virus, sweat is only an indicator that you are starting to get hot.
This is -the- method to kick a cold but it is not recommended by doctors because of the risk of dehydration and complications from that. Doctors don’t want to get sued.
The flu vaccine contains a ‘deactivated’ version of the virus – so it IS the flu, but the microorganisms have been killed. It needs to stimulate the immune system into creating the right response.
ummmmm hello i fell like kissin ma babii when i have a cold so wat u talkin bout comment#9. Smeghead – November 6th, 2008 at 2:46 am
cool i ave a cold rigt now
I dont what the research says… Whenever I´m cold (especially my feet!!) I will inevitably get a cold. Don´t know how, don´t know why… It´s just the way it is.
I don’t get colds.
I haven’t had a cold in over 12 years.
I take no precautions; I go walking into the ocean, wearing shorts and a t-shirt, in the middle of winter; I garden, similarly attired, any time of year and never bother if I get drenched by the hose or sprinklers. Being cold is something that happens to me often. On purpose usually. Yet that nasty old cold bug doesn’t come calling.
segue – Like yourself I seem to escape the attention of nearly all the seasonal bugs and viruses that sweep through my friends, family, and office. I have no explanation for it as I do not consider myself overly “germ conscious”….quite the opposite in fact. I guess I’m just lucky.
My girlfriend on the other hand has had numerous colds and other bugs during our time together. The fact that I manage to escape nearly all of them unaffected just makes me feel even luckier.
I shouldn’t speak too soon though, because as I write this I’m into my third day of feeling under the weather. Still it’s the first time in about a year and a half so I’m not complaining.
Precision: I think (I’m not a physician so I’m guessing) that some people might have a more efficient immune system.
During my first marriage, a marriage with a stress level high enough to bring down a charging Rhino, I developed allergies to everything…everything. And with each allergy attack I’d get infected sinuses and middle-ear infections. It was my allergist who suggested (at first, I found cause soon after) to get out of my marriage…and I hadn’t even told him anything about it!
As soon as I was free and clear of that relationship, everything cleared up.
No allergies and no colds.
Weird.
That’s why I have the immune system theory.
Why some get sick and others don’t.
If you have an immune response to a certain flu bug, it means you are protected from the version of the bug from here on in. Being exposed to a new version of the flu does not immediately mean that you get sick with a full-blown cold. If you are feeling under the weather, that is all it may take to make you protected from it.
Particularly nasty strains will cause alot of people to get the full flu effects, but usually its just a healthy body that can kick it quickly, althought suffering from its full effect just day prior.
And.
Most germs actually live inside the nose anyways. If the blood is decreased, the germs increase. (see post #96 and #97 for more info)
Tony Dee, I understand that part. It’s basic. My theory, OTOH, is that some immune systems simply work in over-drive.
An example: I have a genetic disease. It causes Schwann cell tumors to grow on and encompass, nerve roots, nerve sheathes and peripheral nerve bundles.
Now, one would think that the immune system would prohibit such a thing from happening, but it doesn’t of course because the cells are all mine. However, something *has* happened, because ever since I’ve become symptomatic my body has fought off almost all other “small” illnesses. No colds, no naso-bronchial flu. I do have intestinal issues, but then they can be tied to the meds I have to take.
I honestly believe my body is protecting itself from small annoyances. It has larger issues to deal with.
well ‘ some of these sound true but the one about the flu shot is not true.
studies have shown that the influenza shot doesn’t give you the flu but it does makeit easier to catch a cold
You copied the images and the list from the ABC News website. Then you ask for donations for your ‘work’….shameless.
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/ColdandFluNews/Story?id=5718776&page=1
GREAT ARTICLE
if you believe everything you read
This list is shot full of holes. Harsh weather contributes to rate of infection. nasal mucus is found in large quantities on the upper lip of a kisser with a cold. Vitamin C can’t help a cold, but can lightly reduce the chances of contracting one. And on and on. I think that, until she spends more time researching the work of contradicting authorities, this author should use the term “indicates,” and steer clear of declaring what “is!” and what “isn’t!”
lol…jsut owned my mum: cold doenst = a cold!!!
and no orange bombardment in winter!
I liked the article, I have a few to add thanks. I like to make sure that I get plenty of rest. I also make sure that I eat right. I drink more tea and have plenty od fruits, grapefruits and oranges. Thanks for reading, God bless and have a great day.
Can taking a shower before going out be dangerous?
I like these top 10 lists, but get frustrated with certain claims that don’t offer any references or links to back them up. And, some of these are just INCORRECT.
8) “Weakened Immune System…A weakened immune system does not heighten the risks of catching a cold. Healthy and unhealthy people exhibit the same amount of susceptibility to colds in studies that have been done. ”
What studies? I have NEVER heard of such studies. And whats the point of describing immune systems as ‘weak’ or ‘strong’ if the relative strength of them doesn’t affect whether we get sick or not? That just does not make sense to me. If you have a weaker immune system, your body is not able to fight off infections as efficiently. Case closed.
5) “Don’t drink Milk…A lot of people think that drinking milk while you have a cold is a bad idea because it causes more mucous to build up. Actually, milk does not cause a build up of mucous at all.”
Ha…this is DEFINITELY WRONG. Dairy products produce mucus, especially if you are prone to producing mucus if you are sick or smoke. I have NO IDEA where you picked up this misconcption…care to enlighten us?
1) “Starve A Cold… am sure that everyone has heard the phrase “starve a fever, feed a cold.” The fact is, it is completely untrue. Eating has no negative impact on the body when you are sick, in fact, the opposite is true.”
Digestion uses energy that could otherwise be used to create cells to fight infection. So eating DOES affect your body, negatively, in this sense. Again, WHERE did you come up with this conclusion?!
OMG I BELIEVED IN ALL OF THESE IM SuCH A DICKHEAD……….LOL
Well in the last 7 months I have been unfortunate to have gone down with cold symptoms 9 times, also in that time I have had bronchitis and a few months and colds after that a chest infection, this is because my immune system has changed after taking a concoction of medication for high blood pressure and then problems with CHD, all the doctors agree that because of my immune system has changed because of the chemical laden drugs that I take that I now catch colds much more readily. What I have found is taking a high dose vitamin C tablet really makes me able to cope better with having the cold, doesn’t cure but helps stop the mucus and running noses. Also because drinking lots of fluids makes you visit the bathroom more and in turn you wash your hands that much more this helps in stopping the spread of colds to family and loved ones. I’m waiting for someone that finds the cure with anticipation.
115. Purdy:…my immune system has changed because of the chemical laden drugs that I take…
****
Purdy, that’s odd. I don’t mean that in a bad way, just unusual to me. I have an extremely drug laden system, have had for 12 years now, and I can count the number of colds/infections/viruses/etc. on the fingers of one hand and have fingers left over.
I figured they were afraid of me.
Segue your very lucky, the pills I currently take are Sotalol, Ramipril, Amlodopin, Cardura, Simvastatin and Aspirin and these are apparently maximum doses, pills that I had taken and now not are Fruesimide and Plavix, I can only relay what supposed professional doctors have told me as to why I am more susceptible to colds and thought others might like to know what helps alleviate the symptoms.
Purdy, I wouldn’t call it lucky.
Believe me, I wouldn’t call it lucky at all.
Sorry Segue I didn’t mean to sound flippant, taking any medication for what ever reason is not nice, especially as they can have nasty side affects as well. All the best and take care.
Most of the time, due to the fact that it is complete guesswork, the vaccine that is distributed is for the wrong strain. Also, the flu vaccine(and possibly others) contain MERCURY and other harmful substances and been proven to be connected to the increase in autism in children, and has actually caused deaths. Flu shots are FAR more harmful than beneficial. Look at the statistics. They don’t work. If you get a flu shot and then end up flu-free, chances are you wouldn’t have gotten the flu anyway. The numbers don’t lie.