Beating the Common Cold
Just how does one go about Beating the Common Cold?
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Question 1: How many bacteria are there out there that are responsible for the common cold?
Answer: 0
It is a trick question. The answer is zero because colds are caused by viruses, not bacteria.
Wikipedia reports that, “Rhinoviruses are the most common viral infectious agents in humans and are the predominant cause of the common cold. Rhinovirus infection proliferates in temperatures between 33–35 °C, the temperatures found in the nose.”
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200 – There are about 200 viruses that are responsible for the common cold.
1 Billion – The approximate number of colds caught in the United States annually.
$3 Billion – The approximate amount spent in the United States on over the counter drugs to fight the cold annually.
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Question 2: How many cures are their for the common cold?
Answer: 0
Another trick question. There are no scientifically proven cures for colds.
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Adults – Get 2 to 3 colds a year.
Children – 5 to 9, with preschoolers coming in at 8-9.
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Question 3: How long does it take to recover from the common cold?
Answer: On average 7 to 10 days
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60% – the percent of the time antibiotics are prescribed by doctors for the common cold.
Funny thing is that antibiotics fight bacteria, but bacteria doesn’t cause colds.
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So, I got sick last week. Went home from work early on a Tuesday and slept from 4:30pm to midnight on the couch. At midnight, I rolled from the couch to the bed. All in, I slept 14 hours and woke up feeling like absolutely crap. I debated, go to the doctor (again) to get antibiotics or wait this one out. After giving it a Google, I reminded myself of the realities of the common cold I share above. (Thanks to the information available at Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. National Library of Medicine.)
I decided to take an alternate route for this cold. I am tired of taking antibiotics needlessly and I have to toughen up and just deal with the reality of colds.
- Over the counter Mucinex DM to offset the symptoms, not fight the cold
- Slept more than I typically do. 8-10 hours a night vs my regular 6.5-8
- Drank a lot of water (and still had coffee in the mornings)
I did these 3 things and today – 7 days later – I am back to about 80%.
I suspect that the research is right. At this pace, I will be pretty much recovered in 7-10 days. Can’t get back the time I lost, but hey, I caught a cold and had to toughen up and just deal with it.
Catching a cold is likely inevitable for each of us. Just think that with 200 viruses out there, when it is cold out, the viruses are running rampant. Doors, hands, even the chairs you sit in at your local Starbucks, are all susceptible common cold transfer agents.
Last Question: How many days are people with the cold contagious?
Answer: People are contagious for 2 to 3 days after catching a cold. But, I’d stay away for up to a full week to be safe!
Stay healthy!!