ASK THE DOCTOR: Decoding the common cold
By Dr. JIM MITTERANDO
The Patriot LedgerMyth: Cold weather or change in weather causes colds.
Fact: The ‘‘common cold’’ has nothing to do with climate or temperature.
Changes in weather and dampness may affect someone’s arthritis but will not cause a cold. The ‘‘common cold’’ is a viral infection that is transmitted by contact with a sick person.
Viruses that cause the common cold tend to be more active in the winter and school year when people are clustered together and more likely to spread germs. Colds occur in warm, southern climates, as well. I see plenty of people with cold infections in the summertime.
Myth: You can catch a cold if you don’t dress appropriately.
Fact: Bundling up will not prevent a cold nor will it help the cold to go away. Going outside with a wet head or getting wet in the rain cannot cause any infection. Studies done on military recruits and college students showed that exposing them to various temperatures did not make them more susceptible to illness. Stress and lack of sleep will depress the immune system and make you more susceptible to getting sick. Tobacco use and excessive alcohol use will also make you more prone to illness.
Myth: Sweat out a fever
Fact: The old adage of ‘‘sweating out a fever’’ is incorrect and overheating may raise the fever. Likewise, a cold bath to bring down a fever does not work since the ensuing shivering will raise the temperature and it is traumatic to your body.
Fevers are not harmful but can cause malaise and aches that can be improved with acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin). Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids when you have a fever. A wet wash cloth on the forehead or neck can be soothing. Rubbing alcohol is no longer recommended since it can be harmful.
Myth: You need to cough it out and shouldn’t swallow the mucus.
Fact: Swallowing mucus is not harmful. Expectorating (coughing up) mucus was commonly recommended in the past, but is unnecessary. The body naturally clears mucus and debris from the lungs and you do not have to force a cough or blow your nose unless you feel the need.
Guaifenisin - an expectorant found in many cough syrups - does not loosen mucus any better than simply drinking plenty of fluids. In addition, guaifenisin can cause nausea.
The only ingredient you need in a cough syrup is dextromethorphan (DM), which can help suppress an annoying cough. It will not speed the recovery of the cough.
Myth: Change in color in mucus means bacterial infection.
Fact: Mucus can be various colors and still be viral infection. The old adage ‘‘viral infections cause clear mucus and bacterial infections cause colored mucus’’ is not correct. Recent research shows that change in color of mucus or sputum has no significance and certainly does not require antibiotics.
Myth: Antibiotics help to treat or prevent colds.
Fact: Antibiotics do not affect colds. Antibiotics kill only bacteria and not viruses. People used to receive Penicillin shots believing this helped their cold illness. We have learned that not only are antibiotics ineffective with viruses but also their liberal use during colds has contributed to side effects and antibiotic resistant bacteria. Occasionally, colds lead to secondary bacterial infections. Antibiotics will not prevent bacterial infections.
Myth: Vitamin C, zinc or echinacea cure or prevent a cold.
Fact: There is no magic cure for a cold. Unfortunately, there is none. Cold medications can relieve certain symptoms - aches, congestion, coughs - but do not cure or even shorten a cold. Vitamin C does not help with a cold. Zinc and echinacea have been disappointing in treating colds with conflicting study results. They do not prevent colds. Zinc lozenges taste bad and there are concerns about the safety of high doses of vitamin C and zinc.
Myth: Lozenges cure sore throats.
Fact: Lozenges or candies can help symptoms. Simply keeping the throat moist with frequent sips of liquid, lozenges or sucking candies will provide some comfort for a sore throat. Medicated lozenges or sprays sometimes can temporarily numb a painful throat, but they taste bad and do nothing to help recovery. I prefer Lifesavers or mints over any medicated lozenge.
Myth: Gargling helps cure sore throats.
Fact: Gargling does not speed recovery. Gargling (especially with salt water) was popular in the past for treating sore throats and is no longer thought useful.
Myth: Clearing your throat will improve hoarseness.
Fact: Clearing throat or coughing worsens laryngitis. Laryngitis is swelling of the vocal cords that causes hoarseness. Clearing the throat, gargling or coughing further aggravates vocal cord swelling. Sucking candies can help to reduce the tickle and promote swallowing - thereby giving the vocal cords a rest. Cough suppressants can also help when you have cough and hoarseness.
Myth: High Fevers will cause brain damage.
Fact: High fevers do not cause brain damage or seizures. ‘‘Fever phobia’’ contributes to fear and misunderstanding regarding fever in children that leads to parental anxiety and overuse of medications. New research has shown that fever may actually aid the immune system in fighting infection.
Fever is not an illness but a symptom and never harms a child. Fever during the first week of a viral illness is quite normal. Call your doctor if you develop a fever with worsening cough and shortness of breath one week into a cold. That can be a sign of pneumonia. Newborns during the first 3 months should be seen by a healthcare provider if they have a fever of 100.5 or higher.
Myth: The flu vaccine causes the flu.
Fact: You cannot catch the flu from a flu vaccine. Older vaccines were less pure and sometimes caused brief reactions such a fever and chills. The newer flu vaccines contain only parts of the influenza virus for the body to form an immune response. Since there is no whole virus in the vaccine you cannot catch an illness from it. The flu vaccine is safe. The only people that need to avoid it are people with allergies to eggs since eggs are used in making the vaccine.
The flu vaccine does not protect against cold viruses and will not prevent common colds. People often think the flu vaccine does not help when they get a cold virus with flu-like symptoms.
The key to helping your body heal is rest, time, and a healthy lifestyle with no tobacco and decreased alcohol.
Dr. Jim Mitterando is a family doctor at Cohasset Family Practice and a staff member at South Shore Hospital in Weymouth.
Readers should send questions to: Ask the Doctor, The Patriot Ledger, P.O. Box 699159, Quincy, MA 02269-9159, or by E-mail to his attention at features@ledger.com.
Questions of general interest will be answered in this column. The information in this column is not intended to diagnose individual conditions, and individual replies are not possible. Readers should see their own doctors about specific problems.
Copyright 2006 The Patriot Ledger
Transmitted Tuesday, January 17, 2006