The idea that cold weather, and exposure to cold weather, has been around for centuries.

Celsus, in the 1st Century AD, wrote:

“Winter provokes headache, coughs, and all the affections which attack the throat, and the sides of the chest and lungs.”

We all know to wrap up warm before going outside in the cold, but can simply getting cold cause a cold?

The short answer is no. Colds are caused by a virus, to which one must be exposed. Cold weather won’t by itself cause a cold. So why are there more colds, headaches, coughs and flu in the winter than in other seasons? Here is a breakdown of the main explanations.

• First, exposure to cold may impair the body’s immune system, so that one is more susceptible to any viruses to which one comes in contact. Wrapping up warm is good advice in so far as it gives the body a better chance at fighting off infections.

• Secondly, cold, dry air may be better suited for the survival of cold virii. The chances of exposure to a cold virus are therefore increased.

• Thirdly, when the body is cold, the blood vessels in the nose constrict and the temperature of the mucosal membrane falls. This reflex could decrease resistance to infection. A 2005 study found that chilling people’s feet led to a 10% increase in colds within a 4/5 day period, perhaps due to this effect.

• Fourthly, people are more crowded together in the winter months, so the chances of exposure to a cold virus are greater.

To prevent a cold, there’s no harm in following your grandmother’s advice. Wrap up and stay warm. Perhaps try to keep that cold nose away from other people, as when you are warm and your nose is warm, you may be better able to fight off infection. Finally, if you can’t avoid people entirely, which would be a sure way of preventing a cold, then wash hands often. Colds can be picked up from touching contaminated surfaces like door handles. Soap doesn’t kill cold virii, but it will help to remove them from the skin.

Colds cannot be cured. The common cold is caused by a virus, and usually just needs to run its course. However, there are things one can do to treat the symptoms of a cold, and get through it as unscathed as possible. If you really can’t get, or don’t want, antihistamines (to treat the itching, watery eyes, runny noses or tickly throat), decongestants (to relieve a stuffy nose, blocked sinuses and sinus headaches), or cough suppressants (to relieve a cough that keeps you awake at night), here are some other things to try. These remedies are categorized from most likely to least likely to work.

Most effective cold treatments:

Drink plenty of fluids and get some rest. Your body is producing lots of fluid that need to be replenished. Take things easy and allow your body to heal itself.

Chicken soup. It’s an old standby, but one that has some good science behind it. A lot of people find that they crave hot soups when they have a cold; the steam from the soup, or indeed any hot beverage, can ease congestion and open the airways.

Spicy foods, like curry, horseradish, mustard and chillis can help clear the sinuses.

Possibly effective cold treatments:

Vitamin C in high doses has been a popular treatment for the cold, ever since Linus Pauling first popularised the idea in his book, Vitamin C and the Common Cold. However, since then, evidence to support its use for shortening or preventing a cold has been hard to find.

Zinc is another popular treatment for colds, but again, the evidence for it is limited.

Nasal washes: Inhaling liquid through the nose and out the mouth is a centuries old decongestant treatment. Home made preparations can be put together using a teaspoon of salt and a pinch of baking soda in warm water. So far, the evidence shows little effect on cold symptoms, but they may be useful for very temporary relief of congestion.

Ineffective cold treatments:

Echinacea. A benchmark study in 2005 found that this herb doesn’t treat or help colds, contrary to  received wisdom. While a few other studies have come up with positive results, there is nothing conclusive to indicate the use of Echinacea either prophylactically or to limit cold duration. You can read a long review here. 

So, just take care of yourself. Get lots of rest, eat and drink hot soups and spicy foods. Most colds just need time.

ooOoo

Resources:

National Institutes of Health

Cough remedies

Dr Lillian Beard gave this excellent talk on her book “Salt in Your Sock and Other Tried-and-True Home Remedies.”

Beard, an associate clinical professor at the George Washington University School of Medicine and the medical contributor on ABC-TV’s “Good Morning Washington,” compiled hundreds of family recipes for wellness from her patients and colleagues during a 30-year period of practicing medicine.

According to Beard, as long as there have been grandmothers, tight budgets and sniffles, there have been home remedies. Beyond chicken soup, the kitchen can be a gold mine for products that alleviate many common ailments.

The book is also a cracking read.

For example:

• For cold sores, apply cool, wet teabags (Earl Grey preferred).
• For nosebleeds, have your child sniff a pinch of cayenne pepper.
• For earaches, fill a sock with salt warmed in a frying pan, then hold the sock against the affected ear.