Blown Away by the Common Cold?

Piffle! It’s only a sniffle!

No I did not make that one up.

Piffle! It’s only a sniffle! is the name of a famous children’s play. So famous in fact that Sex in the City Actress Kim Cattrall claims playing the role of a cold germ was a formative experience in her acting career.

But a cold is no child’s play.

It can start as a tickle in your nose, a scratchy throat, a subtle cough, a bothersome headache or a feeling of utter exhaustion.

Little invaders called viruses affect your mucosa, which are the linings of your airways. This process alerts your immune system that something is about to go down, big time and your immune system starts mounting an attack on these unwanted pests. In this process, chemicals are being secreted which help recruit or flag down and activate the various parts of the immune system. These substances are what cause your runny nose, cough and the all too pervasive snot and phlegm.

There are no official stages for a cold. Each cold is individual and follows its own path. Some last for hours, others for days or even weeks.

There is some evidence that topical zinc, like branded ZICAM® which coats your nasal or oral mucosa, may reduce the severity and duration of the symptoms. Other remedies that have anecdotal evidence for either masking symptoms or reducing the severity include elderberries, aged garlic, high doses of Vitamin C and D and good old-fashioned chicken soup.

But nothing beats rest, fluid, TLC and time.

It’s hard to totally prevent catching colds. Eating well, exercising and getting enough sleep are crucial components of building immunity. Washing hands is key, particularly after shaking hands with someone. And equally as important, refrain from touching your eyes and your face.

Sharing is not caring when it comes to colds so it’s best to be courteous when you are sick and refrain from shaking hands and spreading the love. Stay at home for a day or two. It does your body good and keeps the virus from spreading.

Because cold are from hundreds of different viruses, a cold vaccine is not on the horizon. So for the time being, grin and bear it…and cough it out.

It will eventually go away.