Top 10 Myths About The Common Cold
Published on November 5, 2008 - 110 Comments
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!
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1. lublub - November 6th, 2008 at 1:47 am
i knew most of these already…lol
2. Smurff 2 - November 6th, 2008 at 2:01 am
Good list - warm brandy and lemon juice gives me some relief
3. pankhudi - November 6th, 2008 at 2:07 am
Shit!!!!
I believed in all 10 of the above.
4. GOD - November 6th, 2008 at 2:09 am
Obama!
5. ligeia - November 6th, 2008 at 2:26 am
I’d never even heard the one about not drinking milk. But I don’t like milk anyway.
6. jhoyce07 - November 6th, 2008 at 2:32 am
harrr… i have colds now..huhuhu//
7. Freeze - November 6th, 2008 at 2:37 am
after reading number 6 ive noticed that i do nearly always get a cold in the spring, i always have a warm lemon and honey drink i think thats make you feel a bit better
8. Bryan - November 6th, 2008 at 2:42 am
Best way to deal with the common cold is a warm shot of whiskey and a long nap!
9. Smeghead - November 6th, 2008 at 2:46 am
Who actually feels like kissing when they have a cold?
10. pankhudi - November 6th, 2008 at 2:54 am
@Smeghead: Rightly said!!! But guess a small peck on lips can do no harm.
11. Anon. E. Mouse - November 6th, 2008 at 3:02 am
Very interesting… Most of these I already knew, but it’s always neat to learn new ones!
My mother always used to tell me that vitamin C would help a cold. Guess not
Darn, I can’t spread a cold by kissing? Always wanted to make my husband as miserable as me and get him sick too… Lol.
One thing I noticed that causes me to get sick frequently is quick temperature or humidity changes. Dunno why that is.
12. astraya - November 6th, 2008 at 3:53 am
As I child my mother gave us hot lemon juice and honey. As an adult I discovered the magic ingredient: whisky! It doesn’t cure the cold but as sure hell makes me feel less bad about being sick! I’ve also found that beer is a good cough suppressant.
13. 3000 - November 6th, 2008 at 4:12 am
Right astraya, and wine is good for a headache, scotch is good for a sprained ankle and scotch is good for a papercut.
14. AniH - November 6th, 2008 at 4:35 am
Sometimes Scotch is the cause of a sprained ankle!
15. astraya - November 6th, 2008 at 4:38 am
3000: Of course!
AniH: It hasn’t been for me yet!
16. Jono - November 6th, 2008 at 5:02 am
One bottle of scotch takes any cold away… well it feels like anyway… for a couple of hours…
17. Nelia - November 6th, 2008 at 5:12 am
Huh, I always thought the flu vaccine could give you the flu. My whole family believed this because my Dad got a flu shot several times, and every single time he came down with the flu right afterwards. Eventually he just stopped getting the shot… and he hasn’t had the flu since. Just a weird coincidence I guess. Good to know!
18. Zombie - November 6th, 2008 at 5:13 am
I have been told by medical/homeopathic type people that, while Vitamin C doesn’t affect the cold in any way, it does change the ph (acidity) of your nasal cavity to the point where the bacteria and virus can’t live. It supposedly also acts as a diuretic and flushed out the system, thus clearing out the now dead bacteria and virus.
I don’t know about all that, but I do know that Vit. C helps me feel better when I have sinus stuff going on.
Z.
19. MT - November 6th, 2008 at 5:32 am
I actually have a cure for the common cold. My family has used it for years and it really works. Just do these 4 things:
1) Drinks lots of fluids (any will do,hot or cold).
2) Get as much rest as you can.
3) Keep eating.
4) Take warm baths and keep your hands and nose clean.
If you follow these steps your cold will disappear in 3-7 days. It always works.
20. Ghidoran - November 6th, 2008 at 5:32 am
Great list! Thanks!
21. lucky - November 6th, 2008 at 5:33 am
I think you got number 1 the wrong way round… the version I always heard is ‘feed a cold, starve a fever’. Meaning that you should keep eating when you have a cold, to stop it turning into something worse!
22. Peter - November 6th, 2008 at 5:35 am
Beer is a Histimine and not good for the common cold as it is antihistimines that are required. beer just clogs you up. In all other ways beer is good for you.
23. Mom424 - November 6th, 2008 at 5:45 am
Zombie; I’m pretty sure medicine/homeopathic is an oxymoron. Anyone believes that a solution of a trillion to one is the cure for anything is a quack. Gonna paint your nasal cavities with that ascorbic acid?
24. Phil - November 6th, 2008 at 6:05 am
Best way to avoid a cold: stay off the tube!
25. Peri - November 6th, 2008 at 6:07 am
MT - Colds usually go away on their own within 3-7 days, so while your recommendations make sense, they don’t necessarily make your cold go away faster.
26. Liz - November 6th, 2008 at 6:27 am
I believe that number 1 has nothing to do with eating at all. It means feed a fever (stay warm, even though you’ll feel it already) and starve a cold (refrain from being cold). So either way, you should be in bed, keeping warm.
27. MT - November 6th, 2008 at 6:47 am
.25 Peri
You’re sharp this morning aren’t you? LOL!
28. joanne - November 6th, 2008 at 7:04 am
why is a cold called a “cold” anyway?
29. Bre - November 6th, 2008 at 7:09 am
Vitamin C enhances the immune system helping you fight it off. I think
30. francucumber - November 6th, 2008 at 8:05 am
as i was reading this a cold and flu advert came on. scary. lemsip.
31. Jayme - November 6th, 2008 at 8:14 am
I drink lots and lots of hot tea, add some honey and it coats your throat. That always helps me.
32. tobbytoy - November 6th, 2008 at 8:21 am
I spent some time in Brazil and on extremely hot days, I found some comfort in opening a refrigerator/freezer to feel the effects of what air conditioning would feel like. I always found it humorous when well-intentioned mothers would gasp and exclaim “Don’t put your head in the freezer when its hot outside! YOU WILL GET SICK!” I waged a verbal battle once trying to set someone straight on the subject and it only made her fears worse.
Great list! These myths are alive and well all over the world. It must be the way humans think that lead us to drawing false conclusions like the ones above. Although, I will say that loading on vitamin C seems like it helps me. Maybe by doing some of the things we think will help was are psychologically fighting off the sickness… uh oh, that’s probably a myth too.
33. Patches - November 6th, 2008 at 8:22 am
This might be a’ good a’ time as any… so what do you do then? Just treat the symptoms to make a cold more tolerable and wait it out?
34. Callie - November 6th, 2008 at 8:25 am
The one time I got a flu shot was the only time I ever had the flu. Say what you want, but I’m never getting another flu shot.
I always heard fall/winter was the easiest time to catch a cold because as it gets colder people start spending more time indoors and all the togetherness makes it easy for the virus to spread.
35. Kreachure - November 6th, 2008 at 8:56 am
Very nice list. My mom probably thinks that all of these are totally true
About #3: If you stay out in the cold, you will probably get several symptoms of a cold; sneezing, runny nose, coughing, etc. but of course that doesn’t mean you actually caught a cold. This is probably where this popular myth came from.
36. PaulyIcecubes - November 6th, 2008 at 9:04 am
I stopped taking cold medicines when I was about 14 years old. Since then I’ve gotten sick twice, once when I was 15, and once a couple of years later. I haven’t had a cold in over 10 years.
37. copperdragon - November 6th, 2008 at 9:05 am
It seems most of the myths are designed to either keep from catching a cold or easing the symptoms. None really pretend to “cure” a cold, which is a virus and must run its course.
Vitamin C helps boost your immune system so that you won’t CATCH a cold. Once you’ve caught it, citrus helps clear your nose.
Tea with lemon or honey helps soothe the throat.
Sleep is important and Whisky (and other alcohols) make you drowsy.
Aspirin and other cold meds help ease the pain (headache, muscle ache)
Fluids help replace what you’re sneezing out and sweating out. Warm fluids help when you have the chills.
Eating helps the body have energy to stay warm and fight the symptoms. (admittedly, since your nose is likely stuffed up, most food seems unappetizing - hence soups, crackers, broth, tea and other weak-tasting items work best)
I have never taken the flu vaccine, and very rarely get anything worse than a minor head cold.
38. Melissa - November 6th, 2008 at 9:07 am
When I went to nursing school, and when my boyfriend went to medical school, cold viruses were spread via droplet transmission, not through the nasal secretions as listed in this article. While the amount of virus in saliva drops is miniscule, it takes only a miniscule amount of virus to cause a cold, therefore, it is possible to catch a cold via kissing due to the exchange of fluids. The main way colds are transmitted, however, is via their hands. Coughing spreads saliva droplets over surfaces, where they can remain, sometimes for days. Hand washing is the best defense against colds, and viruses.
39. Melissa - November 6th, 2008 at 9:09 am
Just a small correction, the viruses don’t have hands, it is via a person’s hands touching an infected surface.
40. segue - November 6th, 2008 at 9:13 am
When I was a child and sick with a nasty cold, or even looked to be *getting* a cold, mum would immediately dose me with tall glasses of hot lemon juice with honey and whiskey. As long as the cold lasted, this “cure” was administered 4 times a day.
I don’t think it did a thing for my symptoms, but I’m fairly sure it kept me sleepy (if not sleeping), and quiet, and therefore undemanding and unannoying.
My mum’s parenting skills left a lot to be desired.
41. Dolphinator - November 6th, 2008 at 9:34 am
My mother ALWAYS gave us whiskey - from cold remedy to pain remedy. I used to get whiskey put on my gums when i was teething also. Now i’m an alcoholic - Thanks Mom!! (jk about the alkie thing!)
42. MzFly - November 6th, 2008 at 9:45 am
I always thought that spring/fall was the most active times for colds. It seems I always go through a period of time that I am not feeling 100% when the weather begins to change.
43. segue - November 6th, 2008 at 9:58 am
41. Dolphinator: Like the nick. Do you work with dolphins (the animal), or just like them? Or are you a football fan?
44. Dolphinator - November 6th, 2008 at 10:07 am
Segue-Thanks!!!
I am a Miami Dolphin fan first, I also live in Florida and when I am out on my boat I feed the dolphins in the Intercoastal Waterways.
45. Hillery - November 6th, 2008 at 10:13 am
I’m not sure about this list at all… I think a lot of these myths (though not all) have a grain of truth to them, and maybe some need further explanation. The kissing one for instance. Doesn’t it seem a little weird that the virus is spread primarily with the hands, but that the faces planting the virus on the hands are safe? I don’t know how you kiss, but I kiss on the lips, and the lips are actually mucous membrane. If sneezes are coming from that specific region, I think it’s probably best to steer clear, IMHO.
46. Dolphinator - November 6th, 2008 at 10:16 am
Hillery- I try to never kiss a sneezing woman!
47. Cedestra - November 6th, 2008 at 10:29 am
If you recall those old charactertures of people sitting with their feet in hot water, wrapped in a blanket, and a cold pack on their heads, it’s actually a good remedy using the principles of hydrotherapy. Liquid is attracted to heat and repelled by cold. If you want to reduce inflammation or mucus in an area (like your nose) you would put a cold pack or ice around your sinuses and heat somewhere else. (Ice should be applied until numb and no longer.) Women can also use this technique during difficult cycles by placing cold on their stomachs and warm their feet. Also! you want to soothe aching feet with COLD not HEAT. I know, heat feels better, but your feet ache because of pooled blood from standing.
48. Blogball - November 6th, 2008 at 10:29 am
I sometimes brought these myths up to my wife concerning our daughter getting colds. She never believed me and finally I just gave up and went along with it. It wasn’t worth fighting about. I’m sure she has told me some things that are true too and I don’t want to listen. As any married couple knows you have to pick your battles. However I will bring this list to her attention.
49. Christine - November 6th, 2008 at 10:34 am
Anon #11 - I’m the same way. I’m most susceptible to catching a cold when the temperature changes. Therefore, I usually catch colds in spring or in fall. I haven’t caught a cold in awhile now, so hopefully it stays that way, even though the temperature is just now starting to drop… into the 50’s and 60’s!!! OMG!!
Hehe, I live in Southern California.
50. Paulb - November 6th, 2008 at 10:35 am
Can of Campbells chicken noodle soup. mmm mmm good
51. Jenny - November 6th, 2008 at 10:37 am
Just because someone says its a myth does not mean its realy a myth. Plenty of research has been done to indicate that vitamin C does boost your immune system. Also exposure to extreme cold can weaken the immune system because the body must work harder to warm itself through shivering. Flu shots do have side effects.
52. boomshine87 - November 6th, 2008 at 10:47 am
I read on the internet a psychis predictions for 2009/2010 and one of her predictions was that in this time period there will be a cure for the cold to be found. She said it would have to do with temperature. How true this is, we shall have to wait and see
53. BOLTRON73 - November 6th, 2008 at 10:57 am
SO TRUE!! FUNNY HOW IT SEEMS!! right now i have flu…
54. BOLTRON73 - November 6th, 2008 at 11:01 am
why is it called cold? you feel hot when you have that right?
55. Scientific - November 6th, 2008 at 11:07 am
If vitamin C and zinc don’t help out then why would my doctor tell my to take it? And why would all of these over the counter remedies have vitamin C and zinc in them? You are right on a personal note, I can’t see that they have helped me, but they have to be in these items for a reason. And I don’t think it is because people just believe it helps.
56. DK - November 6th, 2008 at 11:49 am
why is it that you posted this thread today? while I’m in the middle of a terrible cold! how strange!
vitamin C & Zinc are both very important in the upkeep of your immune system, and can help prevent getting a cold to begin with, but once you have one…the “help” they provide is mostly placebo affect.
57. BrotherMan - November 6th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
Thanks for the list, Jamie! It is a good one.
I try to avoid drinking milk when I am sick because it tends to coagulate in my throat and make me even more “mucusy”. That is the same reason that I avoid drinks with lots of high fructose corn syrup when I am ill. I usually stick to water or orange juice and eat lots of chicken noodle soup. I also recommend taking Vitamin C, Echinacea and L-Lysine supplements to boost the immune system.
That reminds me…I need to go get a flu shot before they stop giving them around here.
Thanks again for the list.
58. knight_forked - November 6th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Nice list…knew a few of them, learned a couple more.
59. linaznz - November 6th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
I think vaccinations are totally unatural, there have been many documented case of severe reactions which include getting the disease its self, autisim, and death. my step daughter was vaccinated against meningitis and ended up almost dying from the exact same strain of the disease! she now has learning difficulties attributed to meningitis which were diagnosed by three different doctors. please think very seriously and read the pros and cons of vaccination before you get the shots
60. rmconnors - November 6th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
So I hate to break it to everyone but number 8 is wrong. I am going to school for medicine, and we just talked about this last week. You can get the flu from a flu shot depending on how it is made. It can be made with simply components or it can be made with the weakened version of it, the former being more likely (at least in the states). This is because it is cheaper to make this way. And a lot of people do get the flu even after getting the shot, but it is no where nearly as bad as if they had gotten the full blown thing. And the flu shot is also simply a guess as to what the strand will be like each year so sometimes it works other times it doesn’t. Also one thing that most people don’t know is they can be sick for up to a week before any symptoms show, which is when they are actually the most contagious, and can be sick without showing symptoms for up to a week after the symptoms stop. This is why it is vital to take any medicine prescribed for the amount of time it is prescribed for or else when it comes back, the virus will be able to fight the medicine more effectively because it has seen it before.
61. Eggshaped - November 6th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
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.
62. Crash - November 6th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
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!!
63. DDRM - November 6th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
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.
64. Reyairia - November 6th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
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.
65. jay - November 6th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
BOUNS ONE: OBAMA HUG CAN CURE A COLD
of course it can , his black !.
66. steve d - November 6th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
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!
67. chershey - November 6th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
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 FUCKING PAINKILLERS!! AHARHRHRRHGHGHGH!!, but I still feel cheated.
68. Jono - November 6th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
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.
69. jasontimmer - November 6th, 2008 at 5:30 pm
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.
70. TheOddball - November 6th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
LOL
No nose kissing…
Cracks me up
71. cugirl - November 6th, 2008 at 6:03 pm
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!
72. anekrel - November 6th, 2008 at 6:17 pm
Tequila sunrises, margaritas and mango rum with pineapple juice are all great for colds, too
73. maximuz04 - November 6th, 2008 at 6:28 pm
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.
74. Blade - November 6th, 2008 at 6:54 pm
just curious but could the whole thing about vitamin c, when people claim that it helps, be an extention of the placebo affect?
75. Csimmons - November 6th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
fuck, I believed in about 8 of these.
76. skeptguy - November 6th, 2008 at 7:44 pm
where did you get all this information?
77. Amanda - November 6th, 2008 at 8:13 pm
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.
78. Monkey222 - November 6th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
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.
79. goof_ball - November 6th, 2008 at 9:57 pm
i knew some of these
80. michelle - November 7th, 2008 at 2:46 am
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.
81. Ernmas - November 7th, 2008 at 6:15 am
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.
82. lifeschool - November 7th, 2008 at 11:38 am
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.
83. Corey - November 8th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
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!
84. macabresoren - November 8th, 2008 at 10:38 pm
Hah, I’d already learned all of these because I get such bad colds…
85. Mac - November 9th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
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 shit ever.
86. segue - November 9th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
85. Mac:…Your mom telling you that going out into the cold weather will make you sick is the dumbest shit 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.
87. sdggrant - November 10th, 2008 at 2:22 am
Flu shots can’t give you the flu, but they can give you a fever and make you feel like shit 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 shit lays you out for nearly 24 hours and you feel like crap.
88. JayArr - November 10th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
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.
89. Ironcross - November 11th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
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.
90. The Snowdog - November 11th, 2008 at 11:58 pm
This list gave me the cold
91. DurhamGooner - November 16th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
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!
92. manel lachmaiya - November 17th, 2008 at 7:51 pm
omg lol
93. segue - November 18th, 2008 at 8:56 am
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.
94. Egg - November 18th, 2008 at 8:53 pm
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.
95. Denzell - November 22nd, 2008 at 3:49 am
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.
96. TonyDee - November 22nd, 2008 at 11:30 pm
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.
97. TonyDee - November 22nd, 2008 at 11:45 pm
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.
98. maybesteve - November 26th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
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.
99. ATL Hoty!!!!! - December 4th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
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
100. coleman - December 4th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
cool i ave a cold rigt now
101. GTT - December 4th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
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.
102. segue - December 4th, 2008 at 10:23 pm
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.
103. Precision - December 4th, 2008 at 11:24 pm
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.
104. segue - December 5th, 2008 at 8:58 am
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.
105. TonyDee - December 5th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
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)
106. segue - December 5th, 2008 at 6:28 pm
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.
107. ryan lovesz hk - December 14th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
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
108. Bob - December 19th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
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/C.....amp;page=1
109. Fred - December 28th, 2008 at 11:10 pm
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!”
110. ocelot - December 30th, 2008 at 11:40 am
lol…jsut owned my mum: cold doenst = a cold!!!
and no orange bombardment in winter!