You’ll catch your Death!

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By Linda | March 4, 2008

Being that it’s cold and flu season, I thought it a timely opportunity to spread something other than germs - some knowledge!

A Cold Virus

Here are some common questions and answers about colds and flu (influenza):

What’s the difference between a cold and the flu?

A. Although both illnesses are caused by viruses, their symptoms and severity differ in the following ways:

The common cold usually affects the nose and throat only. Symptoms include:

a runny or blocked nose
sneezing
minor throat irritation
mild fever
a feeling that your ears are blocked
a yellow or green colored mucus or nasal discharge

Influenza is generally a more serious illness. Symptoms of the flu usually start suddenly with a high fever. The flu tends to make the whole body ache. Other symptoms include:

irritation in the throat or lungs
a dry cough
high fever
shivering
sweating
severe muscle aches

Can I catch a cold by being cold?

A. No. There have been numerous studies done on this topic. There is no evidence to substantiate that sitting in a cold draft will make you sick. Nor will standing in a snowstorm with wet hair, no coat, no shoes and even no underwear cause you to catch anything except maybe some strange looks from passersby.

If it’s not the cold weather that causes colds and flu, then why is cold and flu season always in winter?

A. Experts have long pondered why flu and other respiratory viruses spread more in winter. Possible explanations abound. Indoor heating is often cited as a factor, recirculating pathogens in enclosed spaces. Another possible factor is the antimicrobial effect of the sun’s radiation in summer.

The real answer is that no one knows for sure. Just this week a Reuters news story cited a recent study indicating that influenza viruses are particularly suited to survival in cold weather beacuse they coat themselves in a fatty material that hardens and protects them in colder temperatures.

Can sudden swings between warm an cold weather cause an increase in the outbreak of colds and flu?

A. This also appears to be a popular misconception. This ABC News story debunks this and several other myths about colds and flu.

The key to staying healthy during cold and flu season boils down to one word “PREVENTION”. ColdandFluCentral.com is an excellent resource for tips on preventing colds and flu as well as what to do if your child does come down with one.