The Common Cold

[rp2813]

This one is for the health-focused in the group. I'm currently fighting a cold with Airborne, vitamin C, multi-vitamins and Walgreens' version of Mucinex. So far the symptoms are being kept to a minimum. This doesn't work with every cold virus, but this one seems to be one that can be suppressed.

So my issue is this: The average cold runs its course in 7 days or so. My experience has been that they peak from around day 2 to day 5 or so. Residual sinus symptoms can last past the 7 days, but the virus is generally out of the system by then, if not sooner. So when can I stop taking the preventative measures? Before day 7 or do I keep this up until Sunday?

Ralph

 

[jeffg]

Fighting these symptoms is fighting your body's response to the infection. Especially Vitamin C, studies in the last few years have shown that taking more than a very small amount (65 mg/day) causes cell damage.

Personally I'd go off everything, drink tons of clean water, eat good food and get lots of rest. The only time I ever get sick is when I start taking multivitamins. That's no lie.

 

[perc-o-prince]

IMHO, take the Airborne (I use Wal-borne... store brand equivalent) about every 3 waking hours until the cold starts to really subside. I don't think I'd add anything else, unless it's the multi-vitamin you already take every day. I thought it was all a lot of bunk, but since I started this regime, at the first sign of a cold, the duration and severity have lessened each time. I'm talking sometimes a few days for a run instead of a week or so! There is scientific proof that some of these cold helpers do work, mainly through their use of zinc!

When you're driving around a bunch of nose miners like I do, you try anything! Well, anything short of tying their heads up in bags as soon as the get on the bus!

Chuck

 

[perc-o-prince]

p.s.- I believe certain things (like the zinc) help your body fight the infection and don't interfere with it. Not the same a stopping, say, diarreah with Immodium when you have the flu as your body's trying to rid itself of the invaders!

 

[sudsmaster]

Well, it may be too late, but it is my understanding that the best preventative measure - other than getting good nutrition and enough sleep - is to refrain from touching your nose, mouth, or eyes with unwashed hands.

The common cold is spread by viruses that can live for hours on inanimate objects like doorknobs, handles, etc. If you have a need to clear the nose or eyes, wash your hands first - either with soap and water or a small portable bottle of disinfectant. Or use a clean tissue. The viruses are quickly eliminated by soap and water, and then you can mine away to your heart's content ;-).

I keep a small spray bottle of hand disinfectant in my car for just such a reason. It seems to help reduce the frequency and severity of winter colds.

As for the remedies you are taking, I figure they are helping to relieve the symptoms but aren't shortening the length of the infection. Just keep your hands clean. Your IgM and then IgG antibodies are probably peaking so you probably won't get another cold right away, but it doesn't hurt to observe strict hygiene regardless.

 

[rp2813]

I'm pretty careful about washing my hands often and how and where I will grab onto a door handle, especially at work or at a public place. Go for the tarnish!

My sister was fighting off what I am sure is this same cold when she was here for Thanksgiving. I know that's how I got nailed.

Airborne is working so far, as things would have been more or less full blown (pardon the pun) by now. I'm drinking fluids like OJ, cranberry and water.

Haven't bothered with the Mucinex today. I did buy the actual Airborne brand this time. I got 20% more in the package and it usually takes two of them to get through a full week's regimen. Well worth it. I hate having a cold.

 

[toggleswitch2]

*-itis* means it's contagious IIRC.

I try to stay away from remedies (these only mask and reduce symptoms) and medicines ("cure"/prevent sypmtoms).

I have to agree with previous posts; masking symptoms only keeps one ill longer, IMHO.

Of course I sometimes need to take a decongestant in that when I get a runny /stuffy nose the post-nasal drip usually causes sinusitis (a sinus infection). In my case these become bronchitis and pneumonia very quickly.

It should be noted that 95% of New Yorkers (i.e. the residents of the CITY of NY) have post-nasal drip. This is attributed to pollution levels. A great deal of pollution is said to be caused by the heavy (less refined, read: less expensive) fuel-oils used for the heating and hot tap-water needs of larger apartment buildings.

[Residentiallly #2-grade fuel-oil is used (most refined), commercially #4 and #6-grade (where #6 is least refined) are frequently seen].

There is a theory that prescription and over-the-counter (non-prescription) medicines all have MAJOR side-effects and do not (for the most-part) resolve the CAUSE of the medical issue, other than say infeciotns treated by anti-biotics. They simply mask symptoms. For some, the "cure" is worse than the disease.

To me it's odd and ridiculous that drug mannies want us to take a pill EVERY DAY for occasional indigestion, ED, cholesterol, ETC. Have we also noticed that drug companies advertise to the END-USER (us) and ask us to tell the doctor we want XYZ pill?

No, thank you. Don't get (me) hooked on ANYTHING!

 

[sudsmaster]

"itis" just means "inflamed"

And we all know how painful an inflamed body part can get ;-)

Yes, there is a school of thought that some palliative meds may slow recovery. Case in point: the body naturally runs a fever to try to make the environment less hospitable for the infecting organism - I think viruses are more susceptible to higher temps. So if I get the flu I try to avoid lowering the fever right away, until I can't stand it any more.

Rule of thumb: colds are spread primarily by touch; flu is spread primarily by air. At least that's what I read some years ago. Your mileage may vary.

I get flu shots every year... still get the occasional bad cold, and some colds can feel like the flue. But after being bedridden for days about 15 years ago from the flu, I decided to use every preventative measure I could obtain. I've also had adult pertussis twice in my life and that's no picnic either, so I convinced my doctor to give me a pertussis vaccination a few years ago. It lasts about 15 years, so I'll have to update it around 2020. Adult pertussis isn't deadly like infant pertussis is, but it can cause a persistent (2 months or more) cough that can appear suddenly and turn into a coughing fit. And adult pertussis responds poorly to antibiotics.

 

[retro-man]

Something I have tried when a cold tries to set in

When I feel that a cold is trying to take hold of my system, you all know the feeling, food seems to work to keep it at bay.
I have tried many things to avoid colds but Chinese food works for me. I order a variety of thinks such as boneless pork strips, chicken wings etc, but the main thing I think that beats it is the mustard. I slather in on everything. I always ask for extra and I keep a jar of the dried mustard in the cabinet that you mix with water to make a paste. Yes your eyes bug out and weep, your tongue goes numb, but it opens your airways completely and you drink a lot of water. Go to bed for a good nights rest with a large mug of water, you will need it during the night. I awake the next morning and the symptoms are usually gone. Works for me. Give it a try the next time, can't hurt much. LOL
Jon

 

[sudsmaster]

Some people swear by hot peppers to keep colds at bay. It also helps to open the sinuses etc. And I think the peppers themselves are somewhat antiseptic.

I find plenty of bed rest also helps to ward off colds, or lessen their severity.

So far, haven't gotten a cold this season - knock on packawood.

 

[rp2813]

Yeah, this one hit me by way of L.A. first. But it's barely there since I'm taking Airborne religiously. My appetite seems suppressed but have been helping myself to turkey soup ocassionally. Maybe I'll jack it up with some jalapenos or something next bowl. Hmmm . . . now that I've mentioned jalapenos I'm craving a nice big bowl of pho.

 

[oldhouseman]

Well you could try

the 19th century method: A strong purgative. My grandmother always had a bottle of blackdrought at hand. I would bury my face in a pillow to keep her from hearing a sneeze because it was her cure-all. The idea was it pulled everything out of your system and shortened the time a cold would hang around.

The Doctor that went on the grand tour with Lewis and Clarke used that method for most any illness that struck. They called it his magic bullets and dreaded his attention. It's one of the reasons people tended to loose weight when they were sick in past centuries. I asked my doctor about it and he said it does tend to shorten the length of a cold or flu but the side effects can be so unpleasant he rarely brings it up to a patient unless they have a really good health history.

 

[sudsmaster]

Never heard of "blackdraught" before. But then I was born in New England and raised there and in California.

Here's what Wiki has to say about it:

'Black Draught' is also the name of a once-common commercial liquid syrup laxative, sold since the late 1800's, a cathartic medicine composed of a blend of senna and magnesia. Much like other castor oil, it was a commonly used folk remedy for many ailments.

A musical jingle for the product was sung by a very young Dolly Parton: Smile from the inside out smile from the inside out Black Drought makes you smile from the inside out.

I'm glad my parents didn't know about it...

 

[peterh770]

Airborne PLUS vitamin C PLUS a multi-vitamin... I'd check the amounts and make sure you aren't going toxic from all the extra vitamins and minerals. Granted, the water soluble vitamins will give you expensive pee, but the fat soluble ones can cause bodily harm and damage.

Curl up in a blanket with some good, old fashion Jewish penicillin chicken soup! That'll cure all that ails you!

 

[oldhouseman]

That's it!

I have horrible memories of that stuff!! I remember the Dolly Parton song. Dolly was always on "The Porter Wagnor Show" and the commercial for black draught usually showed up. Another folk rememdy was mixing sulfur with vaseline. I remember getting a pretty nasty cut that required stitches and that mixture being put over the wound to help it heal. And of course a big dose of black draught to "help prevent infection". All those folk rememedies are coming back to mind now. God above, how I ever lived to adulthood comes into question when I think about some of those things. Blazing hot wood ashe to "sterilize" a cut....Hair from a horses tail to sew stitches.....

Gee Ralph, get to feeling better. At least you have some easier to deal with treatments. A good shot of jack is always nice.....

 

[rp2813]

OK, that stuff does sound nasty, and it would have to either prevent or entirely cure a cold before I'd even consider it.

I guess I need to clarify that I'm not feeling that badly and am only trying to keep the symptoms to a minimum. I'm completely active (yes, including THAT way) and maybe I should be resting more, but the idea of keeping the symptoms down is so I can still function normally.

At this point I have only the slightest stuffiness in my nose and am otherwise OK. I'm still taking Airborne but the multivitamin is only a morning pill and the extra C only happens at night. Otherwise it's Airborne all the way, as my dad's old army group would say!

So thanks for all the well wishes but I'm really not sick enough to deserve them. Physically, that is ;-)

 

[sudsmaster]

Back when I had my 50 year checkup, I had to "purge" in preparation for the colonoscopy. If Black Draught is anything like that procedure, I could definitely do without it!

And it must have been quite entertaining to have Black Draught forced upon one during the winter in the days of no indoor plumbing...