Myths And Facts About The Common Cold And Flu To Know Right Now

Colds are prevalent throughout the winter months, and many ways have been recorded to help treat and prevent a cold. However, not all methods of preventing or getting rid of a cold are fact. There are more than two hundred cold-causing viruses that result in over one billion cases of the common cold within the United States each year. Knowing what is myth or fact about the common cold may help to prevent catching it this winter. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend individuals who are over six months old to get a yearly flu vaccine to help protect against the virus.

Myth: Vitamin C Prevents Cold Symptoms

When patients feel a common cold coming on, it is not uncommon for others to suggest increasing levels of vitamin C. However, it is known vitamin C will not cure a cold, though it may shorten the duration of the sickness. A study found the common cold's duration was reduced by eight percent in adults and thirteen percent in children. Therefore, if a patient is already suffering from the symptoms of a cold, taking vitamin C may shorten the time they are sick. But remember, it will not prevent illness.

Fact: Being Cold Causes A Cold

It is often said catching a cold due to cold temperatures is a myth and what contributes to the influx of patients with the common cold is due to proximity during the colder months. While proximity does play a role, it has been proven that the rhinovirus, better known as the common cold, reproduces more efficiently in colder climates. The lower the temperature, the lower the response from the immune system. In a study, researchers were able to establish rhinoviruses preferred the nasal cavity, which ranges in temperature from thirty-three to thirty-five degrees Celsius over the lungs, which has a temperature of around thirty-seven degrees Celsius.