Defeat Cold and Flu Bugs

Cold Myths? Here’s the Truth

• “Bundle up or you’ll catch your death.” Contrary to what your mother told you, chilling and dampness have nothing to do with susceptibility to colds. Back in the 1950s, British cold researchers had volunteers stand in frigid meat lockers and drafty gyms wearing little but wet socks for hours on end. In no experiment did those who got chilled catch more colds, or worse colds, than people who spent the same amount of time happily ensconced in warm cozy rooms.

• “Don’t kiss me. I have a cold.” University of Wisconsin researchers infected one member of 24 childless married couples with colds and told the couples to live their lives normally. Fewer than half the spouses caught the cold. During colds, the mouth remains relatively virus-free, so there’s really no reason to refrain from kissing. Just don’t rub noses, or you risk passing the cold by nose-to-nose transmission.

• “Feed a fever, starve a cold.” Or is it “Starve a fever, stuff a cold?” You hear it both ways. Don’t starve or stuff either one. Drown colds in plenty of hot herb teas and chicken soup. Colds often suppress appetite, and some people say that eating lightly or drinking only vegetable juices speeds their recovery. Listen to your body. Eat if you feel hungry. Refrain if you don’t.

• “I have a cold, Doc. I need an antibiotic.” No, you don’t. Antibiotics treat only bacterial infections. They’re powerless against viruses, including cold viruses. Antibiotics might help only if a cold turns into a sinus infection, bronchitis or pneumonia.