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As we turn towards the new year, it is officially cold season. While most people know this, they do not know the nitty gritty details on the infamous common cold.
The Nitty Gritty on the Common Cold
Did you know that the most common illness the world over is the common cold? It is true. The average adult will catch the common cold two times each year. Kids under the age of 10 can catch it as many as 10 times a year, particularly if they are at an age where they are attending school with other children. You know how things get passed around when you are a kid!
The common cold, of course, has a sophisticated medical name. It is acute viral nasopharyngitis. Common cold seems so much easier, but doctors will be doctors. As you might tell from the name, the common cold is actually a virus. In practical terms, it is a viral infection of the upper respiratory system that causes inflammation and such. When your upper respiratory system is inflamed, your air intake and exhale functions are impacted. This is why you cough, sneeze, hack, get sore throats and generally wish you were dead. The common cold typically lasts from three days to a couple of weeks if you are really unlucky.
It is important to understand that the common cold is not influenza. This is a common mistake made by people, often to their detriment. Influenza is a much more serious viral infection. It presents much like a common cold, but you will also suffer from body aches, rapid increases in body temperatures and severe chills. If you are unfortunate enough to catch influenza, you should get medical treatment to help you get through it safely.
So, how do you catch the common cold? Well, it is not a pretty situation. The virus is spread from person to person through the biological material emitted from an infected person when they sneeze or cough. Now, isn’t that a nice way to say it? Every time you sneeze or cough, you emit a viral fog that other people inhale. When they do, the virus is introduced to them. This transportation system explains why everyone in the office or class catches the common cold. Unless you are willing to wear air filtration masks, there isn’t much you can do about it.
While the common cold may be the most common illness on the planet, it is rarely anything more than an inconvenience. Simply put, it does not kill you. The only exception to this is if you have a problem with your immune system or pneumonia. If this is the case, you should immediately consult with a doctor.
By: John Grimes
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