10 Fun Facts about Common Colds

Did you know:

1. The patient is most contagious at days 2 to 4 of the cold. I'm on day 3. Luckily, there's nobody I'm tempted to go breathe on.
2. Duration ranges from 2-14 days, with 7 days being typical. So I've probably got 4 to 11 days to go.
3. According to the CDC, the symptoms of inhalation anthrax can mimic those of a common cold. Oh joy.
4. The Canadian OHS reports that "Although no fatalities have been reported among otherwise healthy workers the disability is important because it affects work performance and absenteeism." Whew about the fatalities issue. As for the absenteeism question, it's true enough. I'm staying home today. 
5. Speaking of absenteeism, one study estimates that colds caused kids to miss 189 million school days per year and their parents 126 million days per year to care for them. Adult cold suffers like yours truly miss an estimated 150 million workdays. The total economic loss associated with the common cold in the US alone is estimated to be in excess of $20 million. (see Wikipedia)
6. Feed a cold and starve a fever isn't very good advice, according to Duke experts.
7. In my experience, drinking LOTS of water seems to shorten the duration of the cold. I theorize that it helps your body shed viruses through your urine.
8. I've never noticed any effect from zinc lozenges. According to WebMD, "the study results on using zinc as a cold remedy are inconclusive. For every study showing a positive benefit with zinc, there’s another study showing no benefit at all."
9. Does a placebo still work if you know it's a placebo? I take Airborne religiously when I have a cold. I do so even though Airborne famously had to settle false ad suits and there seems to be no credible evidence that it shortens the duration of a cold. My theory is that even though my conscious brain knows it's a placebo, my subconscious might still think it works.
10. According to Science Daily, scientists have now sequenced the entire genome of all the major rhinoviruses, suggesting that a vaccine or cure may finally be possible. Cool.

Comments

[save_the_rustbelt]

Being hydrated with a lot of water is always good for you, cold or not.

Grandma's home remedy of hot tea with honey and whiskey still works as well as anything. Throw in a couple of Tylenol for good measure.

May the cur who infected suffer boils and locusts.