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The Cold Facts on the Common Cold
Nose runny? Bad cough? Or perhaps you just have a low-grade fever and a general feeling of
tiredness? Whatever your symptoms, if you are suffering from a cold, you are not alone.
The National Center for Health Statistics estimates that Americans experience one billion
colds per year!
"We can put a man on the moon," says Chelmsford internist Shamim Dahod, M.D.
"Yet we still have found no cure for the common cold. A cold is not a disease, but a
group of diseases. Researchers have identified more than 200 different viruses, in several
different families, that cause colds.
Germs do not "cause" colds or the symptoms we call colds, explains Dr. Dahod.
Viruses like the rhinovirus, the most common culprit, live quite happily inside the cells
of our own noses without giving us any distress. The misery of a cold is the result of our
own immune systems serving eviction notices on the invaders. The runny nose, the fever,
the lethargy, all are weapons in a successful war to rid ourselves of the virus.
Well, just how are colds transmitted, then? Controversy has raged for decades as to
whether the germs expelled into the air by sneezes or viruses picked up by hand contact
were to blame for cold transmission. Though the jury is still out on the matter, the
evidence for hand contact transmission is strong. "That's why the first line of
defense is frequent hand washing," says Dr. Dahod. "Cloth handkerchiefs should
be avoided for the same reason." Opt for a paper tissue that can be discarded after
use.
Damp weather also does not cause colds. Repeated clinical tests, in which subjects sat in
meat lockers and traipsed around wearing wet socks, completely debunked the idea. Yet even
some of the researchers who participated in the study have found themselves reminding
their children to bundle up to avoid colds. Myths die hard.
"Exposure to the virus is the main reason why people catch colds," says Dr.
Dahod. "Parents of young children often have colds because they are exposed to all
the colds that their kids pick up at school or day care."
Children average six to 12 colds per year, while middle-aged people generally have two.
People do build up an immunity to a virus if they are infected with it. Fortunately, that
immunity lasts several years. Unfortunately, there are another 199 strains of cold virus
out there that you aren't immune to. Low relative humidity has also been associated with
more colds. A humidifier to combat dry air, especially during the winter, might be a
worthwhile defense.
Rest still is the best cold treatment. "The first stages of fighting a cold are hard
on the body and you won't have much energy for anything else," she says. "If you
go to work anyway, you could easily spread the infection to coworkers. Rest promotes
self-healing." If you are looking for relief for some of your symptoms, try generic
decongestants or pain relievers. Megadoses of vitamin C - 2,000 milligrams daily-may also
prove effective in shortening the duration of a cold.
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Dr. Shamim Dahod is a specialist in internal medicine affiliated with Lowell
General Hospital. She is in practice with Frederick Wikander, M.D., at 23 Village
Square in Chelmsford. She can be reached at (978) 256-5522.
SIDEBAR
A Cold-Fighting Strategy - 1,2,3
"There are a number of steps we can take to prevent the transmission of colds,"
says Chelmsford internist Shamim Dahod, M.D. Here are a few guidelines that she recommends
to reduce your chances of catching a cold this season.
1. Wash your hands with soap and water frequently, especially when around people who have
colds.
2. Consciously refrain from touching your nose and eyes.
3. When you feel a cold coming on, don't give up so quickly! Don't get depressed and don't
prepare to feel miserable. Instead, put your energy into fighting the cold.
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