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Tis the season for colds-now, despite popular belief, cold temperatures do not appear to
increase your chances of getting a cold or the severity of your cold. To date-there is no evidence that exposure to cold or rainy weather makes you more likely to catch a cold.
Rhinoviruses are the mostly cause of colds-and they have a seasonal pattern-the virus
peaks in the early fall and spring. A wide variety of other viruses cause winter colds. The typical symptoms include: a sore throat, runny nose, congestion and sneezing.
There is still no cure for the common cold, but during the season of sneezes and sniffle-
Americans spend millions of dollars on supplements-so what should you stock up on this cold season when it comes to natural remedies?
Well, some experts agree there is some evidence Vitamin C can shorten the duration of
the common cold by about a day. It's recommended that 1,000 to 2-thousand milligrams a day are needed to see its therapeutic effects. When it comes to the Echinacea, early studies showed the herb had an antiviral effect-but newer studies show no hard evidence. When it comes to zinc-there -is a little bit better clinical evidence-but still nothing conclusive.
Now, the best way to prevent a cold is to take good care of yourself this time of the year!
Eat right, exercise, get plenty of sleep, and wash your hands frequently. Another tip-- sneeze into your arm instead of into your handa to avoid spreading germs-sounds silly but think about it..it makes sense! |