Whether it’s the day of an important exam, or the week of your only vacation this year, the last thing that you want plaguing your body is a cold. Unfortunately, the characteristic runny nose, scratchy throat and wet cough are all but uncommon to the average adult. In fact, most healthy adults get sick an average of two to three times per year. It is also the most commonly-cited reason for children missing school, and for adults missing work. With such a high frequency in illnesses, it is important to know the symptoms associated with the common cold. Moreover, it is important to know what steps can be taken to prevent sickness, and when it can turn into something more serious.
The common cold is a viral infection of the mouth, nose and throat region. Given the vast number of illnesses per year and the amount of times we encounter people who are sick, the associated symptoms can become quite intuitive. The symptoms are generally concentrated in the region of the body. These symptoms include a runny nose, cough, sore throat, congestion, weakness, fever and sneezing. If these symptoms make you miserable (they definitely do for me), then you can take an over-the-counter medication to mitigate them.
Since the common cold is so, well, common, people are often hesitant to go see a doctor for it. Although it is true that in the majority of cases it will go away on its own, there are several cases where it would be beneficial to visit a doctor. One of these cases is when there is another infection along with the sickness. This infection can commonly be an ear infection, sinus infection or even strep throat. Furthermore, if you suffer from any other condition while you are sick, such as asthma, diabetes or a heart condition, then it would also be beneficial to visit a doctor. In some of these cases, the weakened immune system will not be able to ward off the sickness as effectively. Even if you do not fall into these categories, and your gut instinct is telling you to go see a doctor, then please listen to your gut and visit the doctor. It’s better to be safe than sorry in any medical case! If you do not visit a doctor and your cold is relatively mild, then you should get lots of rest and drink plenty of fluids to feel better.
Although there is no vaccine or cure for the common cold, there are several very easy things that you can do on a routine basis to reduce the chances that you get sick. All of these methods are just different ways to reduce the spread of the virus that causes the illness in the first place. One of these methods is to thoroughly cleanse your hands with soap and water or hand sanitizer, which has proven over and over again to be a very effective method of reducing sickness for not only yourself, but also your peers. Along with this method, coughing and sneezing into your elbow as opposed to your hands has also shown to be an effective method of reducing the frequency of sickness. Other common sense methods of reducing the spread of germs such as disinfecting used surfaces and steering clear of those with an existing sickness are also effective. One of the methods to staying healthy that is often underlooked is to simply live a healthy lifestyle. Examples of a healthy lifestyle include getting adequate rest, eating well and exercising. These can all bolster your immune system and prepare your body to fight viruses very well, which is essential to fighting the common cold.
Personally, being sick is one of the worst times of the year for me. One of the best favors that I have ever done for myself was to start taking the steps towards reducing the spread of germs. By making things like washing your hands before and after eating and disinfecting your work surfaces routinely, you can manage to be as healthy as a horse even during cold season!
(Note: These articles are good-faith attempts to be helpful to the Brandeis community and are by no means to be taken as universal. This article does not replace the advice of a medical professional. This article is not written on behalf of the Brandeis Emergency Medical Corps (BEMCo) and is not affiliated with BEMCo in any manner.)
