Get the Facts...
Test your health I.Q. You may have heard some of these before
but is it a fact or a "mythconception"?
FICTION: If you go outside with wet hair, you’ll
catch a cold.
FACT: Colds come from contact with other people who
have colds — not from
a chilly stroll with wet hair. However, pneumonia is linked to exposure to cold
temperatures, so it makes sense to dry your hair first.
FICTION: Chicken soup will cure a cold.
FACT: Although a steamy bowl of chicken soup may be
comforting, time is the only true cure for the common cold. Mom was onto something,
though. Chicken soup soothes throats and temporarily opens clogged nasal passages.
FICTION: You shouldn’t fly when you have a cold, because you’ll
infect the entire plane.
FACT: If you’ve got a cold, the last thing your
body needs is an airplane ride, but not because of those rumors about recirculating
air infecting everyone on board. The real danger is the added stress of changing
air pressure on your already struggling lungs.
FICTION: It’s OK to sniffle when you have a runny
nose.
FACT: Although some cold-sufferers have been assured
that it’s completely
natural and safe to sniff their runny noses, they’re more likely to have
their colds develop into an earache or sinus infection.
FICTION: Kissing is one of the easiest ways to spread
colds.
FACT: Surprise! Although kissing someone with a cold
is not without risk, you’re
more likely to catch a cold by shaking hands with a cold-sufferer.
FICTION: You should starve a fever and feed a cold.
FACT: There’s no scientific data supporting the idea that you should eat
heartily when a cold strikes and starve yourself when you have a fever. Good
nutrition is always a good idea when you’re fighting a cold or flu virus.
FICTION: A humidifier won’t help you recover
from a cold or prevent one.
FACT: Adequate moisture is important when you’re fighting a virus. Your
mucous membranes are your primary defense against invading germs. Without adequate
moisture, these membranes can’t remove the germs entering your system.
FICTION: Vitamin C will cure your cold.
FACT: While this antioxidant may not completely cure
a cold, it can shorten the length of a cold by boosting the immune system. The
real question is how much a person should take. Too much can result in stomach
pains, diarrhea and kidney stones. Ask your doctor about a safe and effective
dose.
FICTION: Keeping surfaces clean will stop the spread
of colds and flu.
FACT: Colds and flu spread in different ways. Colds
are usually transferred through touch, and flu viruses through the air. So, while
keeping surfaces clean may help, the best defense against both colds and flu
is containing the viruses before they have a chance to spread to the air and
surfaces.
This information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical
advice. If your condition does not improve within a reasonable time, you should
consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have.
If you are being treated for a medical condition or have allergies, talk to your
doctor before acting on any of the information presented here.
