Sugarkane Posted June 12, 2011 Posted June 12, 2011 Despite doing everything right I've still managed to get it. What should I take? What can I do to prevent it? Why can we put man on the moon, but still there is no cure for this?!
johan Posted June 12, 2011 Posted June 12, 2011 I think it's because we focused on putting a man on the moon and not on curing the cold. I could be wrong... I take Benadryl and anti-inflammatories, usually aspirin. I heard that that was the best combination from some lady on the radio. She recommended against what I was always doing, which was to let my body fight it off itself. Letting the symptoms run rampant just makes things worse. I generally have to do that for a couple of days before my body has starting defeating the virus itself.
shadowofman Posted June 12, 2011 Posted June 12, 2011 Because the common cold is not one thing. It is either a variety of viruses or a fast evolving virus, able to adapt and evade your immune response. Your immune system is amazingly good at handling and adapting right back, but it requires some time for B cells and T cells to activate and find each other in the lymph system. Often there might only be a few cells even capable of acknowledging the infection, so it takes some time to launch an attack. As far as I know, there really isn't anything you can do to boost your immune system, sans avoiding things that might suppress your immune system. Dosing with vitamin C for instance has shown no evidence at boosting a normal persons already capable immune response. And forget the homeopathic crap. It's all snake oil. There will soon be a day, likely with advancements in nanotechnology, where our immune systems will be enhanced.
TaraMaiden Posted June 12, 2011 Posted June 12, 2011 Despite doing everything right I've still managed to get it. Most colds aren't caused by airborne infection. Most colds are caught by tactile contact. It's not what you breathe so much, but more what you touch. Like the loo flush handle, the tap knobs and the doorknob. All transmitted by peoples' hands, before they wash them. If they ever do, that is.... Always have a pack of hand-wipes in your bag. Antibacterial or not, even if they're just baby-wipes. Anti-bacterial products do more harm than good. They cut down your natural resistance, and are basically as effective as anything else. All soap is anti-bacterial, because all soap cleans your hands of bacteria. all these products touted as antibacterial and sterile, basically cost you more money, but aren't all that big a deal. But wash your hands. A lot. What should I take? Freshly grated Ginger, and tea tree essential oil. What can I do to prevent it? See above. Why can we put man on the moon, but still there is no cure for this?! because the "Common cold" is anything but. Chances are, every single cold we get is caused by different bacteria, so there are probably tens of thousands of millions of different 'colds' you can get. No two are alike. Finding a single cure for every type of cold is logistically impossible. Boost your own immune system, and fight infection by keeping your hands clean. And when you cough or sneeze always cover your mouth - then wash your hands. Otherwise, someone will curse the cold they got from being with you....
shadowofman Posted June 12, 2011 Posted June 12, 2011 Inflammation is the immune systems response and it exists for a purpose. Anything, like Benedryl or anti-inflammatories would be for your comfort only. BUT, your own immune system and the inflammation MIGHT, under some circumstances, need to be depressed. Think of your immune system as an over zealous Homeland Security force. Sometimes it brings out the nukes for just a bunch of immigrants crossing the border and needs to be reigned in.
TaraMaiden Posted June 12, 2011 Posted June 12, 2011 Oh, and remember: Whatever you take while you have a cold, doesn't cure it. It merely relieves the symptoms. YOU cure your cold. Depending on how strong your immune system is, it will stay for around 5 days to two weeks.... But you'd get over it, with or without remedies....
johan Posted June 12, 2011 Posted June 12, 2011 As far as I can tell, my recovery time is the same whether I take something or just let nature do its thing. But the discomfort and inability to sleep is such a drag, unless I at least take something at night. And there's still plenty of inflammation, etc. even when I do take something. It's just more bearable. I also think I was encouraging sinus infections before. Now I can get an almost normal night of sleep, I function better during the day, and I'm still back to my normal exercise routine in about three days.
eerie_reverie Posted June 12, 2011 Posted June 12, 2011 If I take Mucinex and let myself sleep all day, my symptoms are gone when I wake up.
PelicanPete Posted June 12, 2011 Posted June 12, 2011 I haven't gotten a cold for years from taking Norweigen cod liver oil and vitamin C every night during cold and flu season. Even when it feels like I'm coming down with something I take those two things and drink lots of water, and the next day I'm fine. For fun one year I even tried to get sick while taking those - didn't wear a jacket during mid winter for about two weeks and just hung around a lot of illness-ridden acolytes exchanging their variations of pestilence. My fortified immune system just laughed in the face of sickness, with my healthy eating, frequent exercise, and secret remedy. You can get cod liver oil in tiny tablets, or if like me you hate swallowing pills you can get it in a liquid. Here you can find it at walmart, but I don't know about Australia . Probably any pharmacy/natural remedy type establishment.
whichwayisup Posted June 13, 2011 Posted June 13, 2011 I take a immune booster with various minerals, and lots of vitamin C. Sleep, drink water, have oranges and home made chicken noodle soup. I hate being sick!
shadowofman Posted June 13, 2011 Posted June 13, 2011 As I have said, there is no scientific evidence for an immune booster. The best you can do is make sure that your are nourished enough to avoid immuno-suppression. Vitamin C prevents scurvy, it doesn't boost the active immune response. You cannot increase your number of B and T cells. And you cannot increase the speed at which they encounter antigens or each other. There is a possibility that nano technology will be able to do this in the future.
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