Colds - Prevention Still the Best Remedy

With spring still a few months away, most of us will spend the next few months trying to fight off colds and 'flu. But worryingly, many people still don't understand the difference between the two, or how best to treat them, according to Dr Jim Martin of the American Academy of Family Physicians.

"People have a real misunderstanding about what causes their symptoms, and most of us are not very sophisticated about which problems are serious ones that require a doctor visit," stated Dr Martin. He explains colds and 'flu are very different diseases.

Flu can be more dangerous, leading to pneumonia and other complications where the immune system is weak. Meanwhile sneezing, congestion and light fever are often simply colds, which are much less severe. Generally, 'flu comes faster and harder than the common cold. Also, influenza directly affects the respiratory tract; upset stomachs are usually caused by other viruses, germs and bacteria and should be treated accordingly.

Other myths dispelled include:

Wearing a hat to stop a cold
Whilst you need to protect yourself from extreme weather conditions, you can't catch a cold simply by getting wet or cold. If anything, extreme cold could reduce the immune system in the lungs, allowing a 'flu virus to spread.

Starve a fever, feed a cold
Depriving your body of essential nutrients is always dangerous. When fighting off illness, you need to give your natural defense mechanisms as much help as they can get. Always maintain a steady, balanced diet.

Antibiotics for the 'flu
Influenza is a virus, while antibiotics only work against bacterial infections. Over-using drugs can help bacteria to develop immunities to common drugs, making it harder to fight them off. The quickest route to recovery is to allow the body to recover itself. Plenty of rest and liquids mean your immune system can devote all it's resources to getting better. Coughing and fever, while unpleasant, are the quickest way to clear germs from the system.

As always, prevention is the best medicine. Colds and 'flu are caught by contact and best dealt with naturally. "Cover your mouth when you cough, wash your hands after touching shared property and maintain a healthy diet," concludes Dr Martin.

Saturday, 2 February 2002