Although we're at that time of year, colds can be prevalent any time of year. We know that a cold infects the upper respiratory tract and is caused by a virus.
Colds are air born and can spread quickly through coughing and sneezing without protecting ourselves and being in contact with a contaminated object. Unfortunately, the result is a blocked nose, coughing, sneezing and a general feeling of lethargy and restlessness. Colds are more prevalent during the winter months.
The symptoms we get are the immune system’s way of trying to rid the body of the virus, so taking over the counter medications will only serve to suppress our symptoms more, making colds last longer or at worst bringing them back when our immunity is at an all-time low again, but colds must work through the body naturally. It's important we allow that to happen.
Colds tend to target people whose immune systems aren’t working well, who do little to no exercise, deal with stress due to overwork or any pre-existing disorders. Adults may sometimes experience fever like symptoms as a precursor to a cold, which give rise to flu like symptoms, but it would still be classed as a cold. Children are different, because they normally experience a fever alongside a cold.
Researchers believe that the cold virus is a way for the body to detoxify itself, through a reduced appetite and mucus elimination. Reoccurring colds can also be attributed to a poor lifestyle and nutritional deficiencies.
I am quite lucky and rarely catch a cold, but when I do its usually a really nasty one with potential to run into a chest infection. I had whooping cough as a child and if I get a chest infection now, it's always pretty bad.
So I try to keep out of the way of people if I see them full of cold, but sometimes it's inevitable that you will catch cold germs from someone. It really annoys me when in a supermarket the cashier is coughing or sniffling and handling food without using a hand sanitiser.
I have complained to staff about this on occasion and they just look at me as if I'm from Mars. I have taken your advice from elsewhere on your website and start taking Vitamin C and Echinacea at the first signs of feeling unwell.
Thank you. As you say you're quite lucky to be able to avoid colds.
I'm the opposite and because of Cerebral Palsy, I tend to get ill more, which is why I try to avoid illness as much as I can.
I remember once getting caught out from someone yawning in front of me in a supermarket (grocery store) then remembering falling ill with a cold soon after and taking a month to recover.
I take supplements to help me stay well, but it is inevitable that at some point we will fall foul of illness.
Like Brad, I've been pretty lucky when it comes to fighting off viruses. Perhaps it's because I clean almost everything I put my hands on, especially at work or any public facility.
I guess you can say I'm a germophobe of sorts.
Thanks Tim. Yes, there is an element of truth in what you say, although we can probably do too much, because we tend to run from germs, we need some.
But for those of us who are more prone to illness through a compromised immunity, then we must rely on being clean.
I know that when I get ill I get very ill and it often takes me longer to recover, so I try to avoid having to deal with colds at all costs.