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The
Truth Behind Mom's Cold and Flu Advice
Experts separate myth from fact in 10
common cold tips.
By David Freeman
WebMD Feature
Mothers are celebrated (if sometimes vilified) for
their eagerness to advise their children on matters
big and small: how to behave, what to wear, whom to
marry, when to have kids ... and, oh yes, how to
stay healthy during cold and flu season.
Does
science back up what Dr. Mom told you about the
common cold? Or was she full of hot air? Here's what
real doctors have to say about 10 familiar
cold-busting tips:
1. "Don't forget to wash your hands."
Mom
was right on this one. Colds commonly spread when we
touch someone or something that harbors cold-causing
viruses and then infect ourselves by touching our
nose or eyes. Hand washing is great at eliminating
these viruses before they sicken us (and before we
spread them to others).
Hand
sanitizers work well, as does plain old soap and
water (no need for antibacterial soap). The key is
to wash thoroughly -- and regularly.
"Hand washing is part of the routine in my home,"
says William Schaffner, MD, chairman of the
department of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt
Medical School in Nashville, Tenn. "The first thing
we do after coming home is hang up our jackets, and
then we wash our hands."
Be
aware that cold viruses can survive on objects for
several hours -- perhaps overnight, says infectious
disease specialist J. Owen Hendley, MD, professor of
pediatrics at the University of Virginia Health
System in Charlottesville.
2. "Have a little chicken soup,
dear."
Seems mother may have been on to something with this
one, too. Limited research suggests that it can be
helpful. A University of Nebraska study shows that
traditional chicken soup "may contain a number of
substances with beneficial medicinal activity."
What's more, the hot vapors rising from a bowl of
broth help open a stuffy nose, and consuming liquid
of any kind helps keep you hydrated.
Anything else? Chicken soup may melt your malaise
simply by reminding you of the love of a devoted
parent. "If chicken soup makes you feel better, use
it," says Hendley.
3. "Feed a cold, starve a fever."
Scant research has been done on this familiar
advice. A small study published in 2002 suggests
that eating may influence short-term immune
function, but whether this has any effect on the
course of a cold is unknown.
Hendley, for one, is unconvinced. "This is a faintly
titillating study," he says. "But it provides no
support for the 'feed a cold' idea. I grew up
hearing this advice, but I just don't believe it's
true."
Schaffner recommends "listening to your body": If
you feel hungry, he says eat something simple, like
soup, applesauce, or toast.
4. "Bundle up, or you'll catch your
death of cold."
Mom
was way off base here. There's no evidence that low
temperatures or damp conditions make you more
vulnerable to colds.
Colds are more common in colder seasons, but
scientists now believe this is due in part because
low temperatures and low humidity facilitate the
transmission of virus-laden microscopic moisture
droplets from person to person, says Schaffner. So
while a warm coat and galoshes may make you comfy in
inclement weather, they won't protect you from
colds.
5. "Don't go outside with wet hair."
Another pointless piece of advice. Well, maybe not
entirely pointless, as a clammy coif could freeze in
winter. But venturing outside with damp hair won't
make you more vulnerable to colds. Then again, if
your hair looks really scary, it might help guard
against colds by encouraging other people to give
you a wide berth.
6. "Are you sure you're getting
enough sleep?"
Studies show that adequate bed rest boosts immune
function and reduces the risk of catching a cold.
One study, conducted at Carnegie Mellon University,
shows that people who sleep less than seven hours a
night are three times more likely to catch a cold
than people who sleep at least eight hours a night.
And
it's common knowledge that extra sleep helps cold
sufferers feel better. "Colds make you weary, and
it's important to listen to your body," says
Schaffner.
7. "Drink lots of fluids."
As
long as she didn't mean mai tais, mom was on target
with this advice. "It's terribly important to stay
hydrated," Schaffner says, adding that what you
drink is less important. Water and fruit juice are
great, he says; despite their diuretic effect of
caffeine, so are tea and coffee.
8. "Take vitamin C."
Some
studies suggest that the "sunshine vitamin" can help
prevent the common cold and speed recovery from it.
Other studies suggest the opposite. Hendley says
that vitamin C's "modest" anti-inflammatory effect
could make cold sufferers feel a bit better.
Schaffner says he advises his patients to take extra
vitamin C only if they think it works for them.
9. "Take a shower."
Another good one, mom. A hot shower helps loosen
clogged nasal passages and moistens your mucous
membranes.
10. "Cover your mouth when you
cough."
Good
manners, for sure, and a great way to protect others
when you have a cold (though blocking a cough or
sneeze does nothing to ease your symptoms). The
usual approach -- covering your mouth with your
cupped hand -- isn't the best one, says Schaffner.
It's better to cough into your sleeve. That way,
your hands stay relatively germ-free, so you won't
infect others when you shake hands.
By
the way, avoiding shaking hands with others helps
limit your exposure to cold viruses -- but don't
assume that it's safe to shake hands with someone
who has no obvious symptoms of a cold. "People with
colds shed virus particles for days before they show
symptoms," says Schaffner.
©
WebMD. All rights reserved.
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"The first thing we do after
coming home is hang up our jackets, and then we
wash our hands." |
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