Colds and the Flu

Common Colds and the Flu

The suitably named common cold is the most frequent infection in all age groups. Cold symptoms are triggered when a virus attaches itself to the lining of your nasal passages or throat. Your immune system responds by attacking the germ with white blood cells called neutrophils. If your immune system cannot recognize the virus, the response is 'no-specific', meaning your body produces as many neutrophils as possible (usually more than are needed) and circulates them to the infected sites. This all-out attack kills many viruses but it doesn't affect the 200 or so viruses that cause colds. Extra neutrophils clumping together at infection sites is what causes the aches and inflammation of a cold, complete with vast amounts of mucous in the nose and throat.

Cold symptoms settle in between one and four days after you are infected by a cold virus and typically last for about three days. At that point the worst is over, but you may feel congested for a week or more. During the first three days that you have symptoms, you are contagious (meaning you can pass the cold to others) so take preventive measures.

Conventional and alternative medicine seek the same ends; to make it as easy as possible for your body to fight the cold virus while alleviating the aches and congestion as much as possible. Adequate rest at the beginning is key to cold recovery; you may need 12 hours or more of sleep per 24 hours while you're fighting the cold (or you may contact other illnesses more easily in your weakened condition). Drinking water is also very important (see our water consumption article). Mucous flows freely in a well-hydrated body, helping you to avoid or recover from infection; and healthy and moist tissues are harder for a virus to infect than dry tissues.

If you have a fever you body is using 'heat' to help kill the virus. Giving medication to lower a fever can actually undermine your body's defense efforts. However, a temperature of over 103ºF warrants an immediate call to your physician.

Pregnant or nursing mothers should check with their doctor before using any type of cold therapy, including over the counter drugs and any type of herbal remedy.

No specific treatment exists for the actual virus that is causing your cold, but in treating the symptoms you may find some relief. Because it is a viral disease, it does not respond to antibiotics.

Aspirin and acetaminophen may make congestion worse. Never give aspirin to a child with a fever; if you must give acetaminophen instead. Reye's syndrome, a neurological disease that can cause coma, brain damage and death has (only rarely) been linked to aspirin use in children aged 4-15. If your throat is sore gargle with salt water (1/2 tsp salt in 1 cup of water).

It's very tempting to succumb to an advertiser's claims and try one of the many over the counter 'cold and flu' preparations, but think twice. These multi-symptom drugs likely contain medications for symptoms you don't have, and therefore may result in needless over-treatment. Avoid them entirely for children under 13; even those cold medications marketed especially for children don't often work for this age group, and the drugs commonly induce drowsiness, which may slow the healing process.

Over the counter decongestants can initially help break up nasal congestion, but only temporarily. If these drugs are taken regularly for more than 4 or 5 days your body may 'rebound' from them and produce even more mucous and worse congestion. They may also increase blood pressure and heart rate (sometimes alarmingly so). Do not take them without first checking with your doctor if you have heart disease, high blood pressure, prostrate or kidney problems, diabetes or thyroid problems.

Over the counter cough suppressants can occasionally be helpful if your cough is severe enough that it completely interferes with sleeping or talking. Otherwise, allow yourself to cough as you need to (covering your mouth as you do to not infect others), because coughing removes mucous and germs from your throat and lungs.

Over the counter antihistamines can temporarily make breathing easier, but at a cost; they clear the nose by drying it up, making nasal mucous thicker and much harder to drain.

Time is of the essence: begin to treat your cold as soon as you feel the first symptom. An early response often results in a faster, more natural and comfortable recovery period.

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Influenza -'the flu'- is an extremely contagious viral disease that appears most frequently in the winter and spring. The infection spreads through your upper respiratory tract and sometimes goes right into your lungs. The virus typically sweeps through large groups of people who share space, such as schools, working environments and nursing homes.

Although both colds and influenza stem from viruses that infect the upper respiratory tract, the symptoms of influenza are more pronounced and its complications more severe. A runway case of influenza can develop into a more serious illness, such as pneumonia.

The infamous Spanish Flu of 1918 killed 20 million people worldwide. There have been two other pandemics (epidemics that spread over huge geographical areas) since then, in 1957 and 1968. Experts say another pandemic is inevitable, which no vaccine can prevent.

Both the cold and flu are caused by viruses, which are infectious micro-organisms that invade your body and can make you sick. You catch these bugs by inhaling water droplets in the air from the breath of an infected person, who spews them out every time he or she exhales, coughs, or sneezes. Cold and flu viruses can roost on inanimate objects too. Turn a contaminated doorknob or use a co-workers pencil before touching your lips, and you can become infected. So wash your hands regularly with anti-bacterial soap and use a paper towel or your elbow to shut the off the water to avoid recontamination.

The flu vaccine isn't perfect. Since there are so many strains of influenza raging around the world at any given time it would be impossible to concoct a super-vaccine that could protect against all of them. The World Health Organization tries to determine which three strains may be likely to cause widespread illnesses in the coming flu season and inform drug companies so they can prepare new vaccines. Sometimes a new flu virus appears, seemingly from nowhere, that the previously developed vaccine cannot protect against.

A healthy immune system will usually resist the most virulent of colds and flu with ease. Stress and impoverished overall health will cause a person to be more susceptible to recurring flu and colds, making the convalescence period (natural recovery time) longer then normal. Getting cold and wet will also encourage infection. The immune system can become rundown from not eating enough wholesome and raw foods, as well as a lack of fresh air or daily physical activity.

It's always a good idea to start building a strong immune system in the summer and early fall before the cold, wet season starts. This is a perfect time to cleanse the gastrointestinal tract and liver of built-up toxins and wastes.*

Also consider the use of a daily liquid multivitamin complex, which provides essential nutrients that can help keep your immune system strong. This will allow you to enter the cold and flu season with less stress on your immune system, which can give you a great advantage over others who have not.