Cold treatments that do and don't work

Tis the season of sneezing...

Here are some information and insights useful when dealing with colds or flu.

What works
Catching a cold means getting sick for about a week. That's miserable but the following remedies may help:

• Water and other fluids. Water, juice, clear broth, or warm lemon water with honey are some of the fluids that loosen congestion and prevent dehydration. Alcohol, coffee, and caffeinated sodas should be avoided.
  
• Salt water. Mix 1/2 teaspoon salt in 8-ounces of warm water and use it as a gargle to temporarily relieve a sore or scratchy throat.
• Saline nasal sprays. Good for addressing stuffiness and congestion, saline sprays are advisable as they don't lead to a rebound effect - a worsening of symptoms when the medication is discontinued. Saline nasal sprays are also safe for children.
  
• Chicken soup. Scientists have found that chicken soup helps relieve cold and flu symptoms in a couple of ways. It acts as an anti-inflammatory by inhibiting the movement of the immune system cells that participate in the body's inflammatory response. It also temporarily speeds up the movement of mucus through the nose. Fast mucus movement helps relieve congestion and limits the amount of time viruses are in contact with the nose lining. The effects immaterially vary in canned or homemade soups.
  
• Over-the-counter cold medications. The common resort is of course an effective one but one should be careful with side effects and dosage.
  
• Humidity. Humidifiers can add home moisture and help prevent opportunities for cold viruses to proliferate. Not cleaned properly though, they facilitate fungal and mold thriving.

What don't work

There are several ineffective cold remedies and some of the more common ones are listed below.

• Antibiotics. Antibiotics are for bacteria. Colds are caused by viruses. Viruses are not bacteria.
  
• Antihistamines. The do well preventing your runny nose, watery eyes, or sneezing. But basically, they are intended for allergies. They're no help in addressing colds.
  
• Over-the-counter (OTC) cough syrups. The American College of Chest Physicians discourages the use of OTC cough syrups especially for children below age 14.
  
• Not eating. A "folklore," reducing or abstaining from food intake does nothing to reduce symptoms or sickness.
  

What probably won't hurt

In spite of ongoing studies, the scientific jury is still out on popular cold remedies such as vitamin C, echinacea and zinc. Here's an update on some common alternative remedies:

• Vitamin C. Vitamin C doesn't appear to prevent colds in most people, but taking large doses - up to 5,000 milligrams - at the beginning of a cold may reduce the severity of symptoms. Lower doses - 200 to 300 milligrams - may shorten a cold's duration. Just what constitutes an optimum dose isn't clear, but amounts in excess of 2,000 milligrams a day may cause nausea and diarrhea.
• Echinacea. A National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine study released in 2005 found that echinacea did little to prevent or shorten colds. But testing herbs is difficult, and scientists say more research is necessary. Some people swear by Airborne, an herbal cold remedy that's sold over the counter in many drugstores.
• Zinc. The cold-fighting reputation of zinc has had its ups and downs. That's because many zinc studies - both those that find the mineral beneficial and those that do not - are flawed. In studies with positive results, zinc seemed most effective taken as a lozenge or nasal spray within 24 hours of the onset of symptoms. Taking zinc with food reduced side effects, including a bad taste and nausea.

Avoiding colds

Rhinoviruses are the typical causes of colds. They spread through the air through coughing or sneezing (of someone infected). Infection can go through the mouth, eyes, and nose. Colds aren't inevitable though. Viruses linger on surfaces for up to 48 hours but washing for at least 15 seconds with ordinary soap and water or with an alcohol-based sanitizer destroys most of these viruses. The following definitely help.

• Use a paper towel rather than a cloth one to dry hands.
• Avoid people who are sick whenever possible, and stay home if you're sick yourself.
• Avoid sharing dishes, towels or silverware.
• Observe cleanliness.
  
• Manage stress as this lowers immunity and increases susceptibility to illnesses.
• Exercise and take a healthful diet to boost immunity.