We usually blame the air conditioning, wind and low temperatures when we are cold.
Some people think we should take antibiotics to prevent colds from turning into flu. Others think they can not get cold more than once a season, however, most of the information we have is false.
What are the most common 10 myths about cold and flu?
1. A cold can turn into a flu
Chlamydia and flu are caused by different viruses, so one disease can not turn into the other. People usually confuse the early signs of these diseases. Here are some signals that can help you differentiate them:
– A cold starts gradually, with sore throat, headache, fever and stuffy nose. A person feels these symptoms in 3-5 days. Flu is accompanied by fever, headaches, muscle aches and spontaneous pain.
– If you’re cold, your body temperature does not usually increase. If you have flu, the temperature rises to 38°c or even more.
– People do not sneeze too much during flu, this is a symptom of cold.
2. You can treat a cold with antibiotics
Antibiotics can not beat a virus because its structure differs from the bacterial disease. Moreover, antibiotics can make things worse, cold symptoms will not disappear and the virus will continue to spread. If using antibiotics the result will be the opposite: the immune system will decrease and you will create a good environment for the virus to thrive. Over time, the drug becomes less effective because bacteria come in contact with antibiotics, and it can learn to survive.
3. You can not treat a cold
As a rule, cold symptoms last for 3 days, but if you wait and do not treat it, you may have complications or feel the symptoms for a longer period. You should pay special attention if you experience breathing problems.
4. You do not have to take a break if you get a cold
Many people continue to work even if they are not feeling well. There is also the belief that if you do not relax, cold will disappear sooner. In fact, the recovery process will be slower. It is better to stay at home for 1-2 days and then go back to work. Another reason to stay at home is that you are contagious in the early days, and you can infect other people around you.
5. You should stay in bed a lot
If you are cold and stay in bed all day, you may suffer from bronchitis or pneumonia.
In addition, blood circulation decreases. Of course, you do not have to go to the gym as soon as you feel a little better, but another activity will not do any harm. Do some small activity daily to keep your immune system alert.
6. Cold air can cause cold
You can only get a cold if you come in contact with the virus. There is no reason to blame it on wind or air conditioning. What really happens, in fact, is that cold air dries the mucous membrane and it is difficult for organism to protect themselves from viruses. So these might be the indirect causes.
7. If you go out with wet hair, you will get cold
Wet hair, as well as wind or rain can not cause cold or flu. There are 3 ways to get a virus. Do not forget that the viruses are strong enough and they can survive:
– More than 7 days on interior surfaces
– About 12 hours on clothes, upholstery or paper
– A few minutes to an hour on your hands
– Six hours on the door handle
Of course, it is not advisable to get outside with wet hair, and that’s because cold weather weakens the immune system and can make you more vulnerable to all types of viruses.
8. You can only get a cold once a season
The good news is that it is very unlikely to get a cold twice the same way. Chills are caused by viruses, and when the immune system struggles with one, it builds up antibodies against it. But there are more than 200 viruses that cause cold, so in fact there is the risk of getting sick twice or more in the same season.
9. A cold can be cured in one day
There are people who think that if they take different pills, they will manage to heal cold in one day. But this is a dangerous myth. The body needs time to recover and if you take medications that only relieve symptoms, they affect the heart and the consequences can be really serious. You also need to be careful with medicines containing paracetamol: an overdose can lead to liver failure.
10. You must get rid of all the symptoms before returning to a normal life
A post-viral cough and clogged nose can take up to 4 weeks, so you do not have to wait until all the symptoms disappear. If you feel right, you can return to your normal life.