The Common Cold: Stop All That Sneezing
Published by Patrick Omari in Diseases and Conditions, 2 months 1 week 3 days 17 hours 39 minutes 58 seconds ago
The common cold; we all know someone who's had it and it's a safe bet to say that most of us have spent a fair few days under its stuffy spell. Every time we feel it's sniffing, coughing symptoms clogging our systems there's always one person that offers a home-remedie with more than a touch of pompous self-righteousness. But where does this seemingly inescapable assault on the sinuses come from?
The name for the affliction, "common cold," first entered our collective vocabulary back in in the 16th century and came from the similarity to symptoms caused by exposure to cold weather. Historical notes have revealed that King James 1st suffered from nasal colds. When he wasn't avoiding gunpowder plots he was battling sinus troubles which caused his nasal colds.
Despite the origins of its name, there is no proven link between suffering and exposure to cold weather. Founding Father of the United States of America and noted polymath, Benjamin Franklin undertook several years of research into the causes and prevention of the common cold and, even though viruses had yet to be discovered, concluded that the cold was passed between people through the air. As for cures, Franklin recommended exercise, bathing and moderation in food and drink to avoid it. It's also a good idea to avoid those who are currently under its snotty spell and to wash your hands thoroughly.
It was just over 150 years after Franklin's theory was published before it was confirmed that the common cold is spread by a large variety of viruses which mutate often, leading to a constant change in the strains of virus and making a successful immunization nigh on impossible. As for cures once you've got the beastly bug, there is no antiviral drug approved to treat or cure the pest. Most of the medications are palliative and only treat the symptoms. Given that the symptoms themselves - muscle aces, fatigue, headaches, weakness, sneezing, coughing, runny nose, sore throat - are pretty dang nasty, drug companies will never go broke peddling such relief.
While the virus and its symptoms are usually resolved by our bodies, clever as they are, within a week (or possibly two depending on how much sick time you're allowed) they are costly. Those poorly Americans manage to spend something approaching 2.9 billion dollars a year on over-the-counter drugs to relieve their symptoms while up to 189 million days of school are missed each year due to the common cold while 150 million workdays are missed and 126 million days taken to look after children suffering from the dreaded lurgie.
This being said, you can guarantee that next time you sneeze more than the once, some smug so-and-so will suggest you place your head over a bowl of steam while you bite your tongue on suggestions that they stick there head somewhere else. Then there will be someone who offers up chicken soup as a cure, hot milk and honey, eating orange peel, when all you really want is to be left alone. Why should you have to suffer fools while you suffer a cold?
The simple truth is that there is no cure for the common cold as the common cold is not common. As stated earlier, the constant mutations of viruses means that it's never the same cold as you had last time - on an infection level. Accordingly, take a few aspirin, have a sleep, and get over it.
The name for the affliction, "common cold," first entered our collective vocabulary back in in the 16th century and came from the similarity to symptoms caused by exposure to cold weather. Historical notes have revealed that King James 1st suffered from nasal colds. When he wasn't avoiding gunpowder plots he was battling sinus troubles which caused his nasal colds.
Despite the origins of its name, there is no proven link between suffering and exposure to cold weather. Founding Father of the United States of America and noted polymath, Benjamin Franklin undertook several years of research into the causes and prevention of the common cold and, even though viruses had yet to be discovered, concluded that the cold was passed between people through the air. As for cures, Franklin recommended exercise, bathing and moderation in food and drink to avoid it. It's also a good idea to avoid those who are currently under its snotty spell and to wash your hands thoroughly.
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It was just over 150 years after Franklin's theory was published before it was confirmed that the common cold is spread by a large variety of viruses which mutate often, leading to a constant change in the strains of virus and making a successful immunization nigh on impossible. As for cures once you've got the beastly bug, there is no antiviral drug approved to treat or cure the pest. Most of the medications are palliative and only treat the symptoms. Given that the symptoms themselves - muscle aces, fatigue, headaches, weakness, sneezing, coughing, runny nose, sore throat - are pretty dang nasty, drug companies will never go broke peddling such relief.
While the virus and its symptoms are usually resolved by our bodies, clever as they are, within a week (or possibly two depending on how much sick time you're allowed) they are costly. Those poorly Americans manage to spend something approaching 2.9 billion dollars a year on over-the-counter drugs to relieve their symptoms while up to 189 million days of school are missed each year due to the common cold while 150 million workdays are missed and 126 million days taken to look after children suffering from the dreaded lurgie.
This being said, you can guarantee that next time you sneeze more than the once, some smug so-and-so will suggest you place your head over a bowl of steam while you bite your tongue on suggestions that they stick there head somewhere else. Then there will be someone who offers up chicken soup as a cure, hot milk and honey, eating orange peel, when all you really want is to be left alone. Why should you have to suffer fools while you suffer a cold?
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The simple truth is that there is no cure for the common cold as the common cold is not common. As stated earlier, the constant mutations of viruses means that it's never the same cold as you had last time - on an infection level. Accordingly, take a few aspirin, have a sleep, and get over it.
About Patrick Omari
Patrick is an expert Research and Travel consultant. His current interest is in Birmingham airport parking, Gatwick parking and Gatwick hotels.
Resources
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