8 facts you should know about the common cold

Weather of Arabia - The common cold is considered a widespread disease, but it is not a serious disease. However, there are many widespread beliefs about the common cold that range from false to true.

Here are 8 facts you should know about the common cold

A cold does not cause a cold

The main cause of a cold is exposure of the respiratory system to viruses, specifically the rhinovirus, and the common cold is considered an easy disease to catch during the winter, especially if the person is in closed spaces with other people who suffer from this contagious virus. Then, you only need to be in direct contact with a person who has a cold in order to transmit the infection to you, and this disease is spread specifically through sneezing.

Symptoms of infection often appear two to three days after infection, while the incubation period is up to seven days, which delays the appearance of symptoms accompanying infection.

The effectiveness of traditional methods is not proven

Although following some traditional methods of treating the common cold, such as drinking thyme tea or inhaling eucalyptus vapor or lavender flower, may contribute to alleviating the severity of the symptoms associated with the common cold, their effectiveness has not been scientifically proven in reducing the risk of infection, or reducing the incubation period of the virus. In the body, or even alleviating the severity of cold symptoms.

Some herbs can be used to treat colds, such as:

Ginger: Ginger is effective in soothing coughs and sore throats. You can put a few slices of raw ginger in boiling water.

• Honey : Honey contains antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. Drinking honey with lemon has been shown to relieve throat pain and is considered an effective cough suppressant.
• Garlic : Garlic contains the compound allicin, which is considered antimicrobial.
• Echinacea : It contains flavonoids that enhance the body’s immunity and reduce inflammation.

Please note that the use of these herbs must be under medical supervision, and they may not be effective in preventing infection or reducing the incubation period of the virus.

Night sweats do not speed up recovery from a cold

Sweating at night by covering your body does not help speed up the recovery process from a cold. The origin of this idea goes back to a period when fever was not known to be treated, and people believed that increased body temperature and sweating might lead to a relative improvement in the patient's condition. However, it is noteworthy that sweating may relieve symptoms temporarily, but it does not affect the speed of recovery from a cold, as recovery usually takes between 7 and 10 days.

The incubation period of the virus continues after recovery from the cold

Recovering from a cold may take a period ranging from seven to ten days, but the incubation period of the virus may last for up to a week. Particular attention should be paid to smokers and asthma patients, as they may face serious complications as a result of the common cold. Complications can also be more serious for individuals with immunodeficiency or chronic diseases.

A runny nose does not necessarily mean a cold

The fact is that a runny nose is not enough evidence that a person has a cold. In fact, many people may not know that there are many other factors that may cause the nasal mucosa to become inflamed and swollen, leading to increased secretions and sneezing.

In addition to allergens and respiratory viruses that are the main cause of a runny nose, the following conditions can also lead to a runny nose:

• Nasal polyps.
• Sinusitis.
• Deviated nasal septum.
• Influenza infection.
• Taking some medications that may cause a runny nose.
• Nonallergic rhinitis.
• Hormonal changes.
• Dry weather.
• Excessive use of nasal spray.
• Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection.
• pregnancy period.

Hygiene is essential to prevent colds

It is possible to protect ourselves from the risk of contracting a cold by avoiding contact with people infected with the infectious virus, especially those who cough into the palm of the hand instead of the inside of the elbow as recommended, or who do not wash their hands after wiping their nose. It is indicated that viruses remain alive for an approximate period of up to two hours on the surface of the skin and several hours on other surfaces such as door handles, which increases the possibility of transmission of infection when touching mucous membranes, especially in the nose, eyes and mouth.

It is also best to avoid dry air at home, as the mucous membrane is very sensitive and less resistant to pathogenic viruses.

Vitamin C does not protect against colds

The information circulating about the effectiveness of "vitamin C" in preventing the risk of colds varies between true and false, as the results of studies conducted on the benefits of vitamin C show a contradiction.

In fact, taking vitamin C regularly does not reduce the risk of catching a cold. However, there is some evidence suggesting that taking it may reduce how long the body incubates the virus, although scientific evidence supporting this trend is weak.

Kissing someone who has a cold does not necessarily transmit the infection

Kissing a person with a cold does not necessarily lead to transmission of the infection in 90% of cases, as the virus is often not present in saliva. However, coughing near another person can contribute to further transmission of the virus, increasing your chances of catching a cold.

Source: altibbi