Fight Against Cold

Christmas is fast approaching and so the breeze of air is much colder than the past few months. Changes of weather temperature greatly affect the human body. If our immune system is weak then we can easily get different viruses that cause cold. No one is exempted, both adults and young ones can experience.

          Expert says adults on average get two to five colds a year; school children can get as many as seven to ten. The elderly tend to get infected less because they’ve built up immunity to many viruses.

          Rhinovirus is the most common viral cause of the common cold, accounting 30% to 50% of adult colds, and there are more than 150 strains of it. Factors such as stress, lack of sleep and people’s overall health can make them more likely to get infected. More than 150 strains- genotypes of the rhinovirus have been identified and researchers believe there are probably many more.

          Rhinovirus replicates best in the relatively lower body temperatures of the upper respiratory area, such as the nasal passages, sinuses and throat.

          Other viruses-including the corona virus, respiratory syncytial virus and entero virus-have also been identified causing cold symptoms.

Exercise, reducing stress, getting good sleep and hand hygiene can help you avoid colds.

          Some experts believe having one cold virus and weak immune system could make catching another virus easier. Because the epithelial linings in the nose are weakened when you have a cold, the broken down mucus- membrane barrier may be more prone to picking up another virus. But others suggest that proteins such as interferous, with are secreted during a cold to help fight the virus, may also boost resistance to getting infected by a second virus, according to Dr. Fauci of the NIH.

         

“Prevention is better than cure”

We can avoid colds by simply taking good care and extra careful with our body.

The Cold Facts:

F Adults on average get two to five colds a year, mostly between September and May. Young children can get as many as seven to 10 colds.

F More than 200 different viruses cause colds, and scientists continue to discover new ones.

F Colds are more contagious about two days before symptoms start and in the early stages of illness.

F The average cold lasts two to 14 days. Coughs can linger up to six weeks.

Sources: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; Common Cold Centre (Cardiff University); CDC