Every year, as soon as the weather turns colder and everyone around us starts to sniffle, everyone becomes an expert on how to avoid getting sick. While some of these methods, such as hand-washing, are truly effective strategies, others are based on pure myth. Some of this misinformation stems from a lack of understanding of what each illness actually is.
The common cold and the flu have similar symptoms, depending on severity, but are caused by different viruses. In general, flu symptoms are more severe than a cold, but in the first few days of experiencing symptoms, it can be difficult to distinguish between the two. A viral infection such as influenza is different from a bacterial infection, and most respiratory illnesses—those that affect your throat and lungs—are caused by viruses. The only bacterial source of a sore throat is streptococcus, commonly known as strep throat.
Bacteria are single-celled organisms that multiply by simple division, whereas viruses do not divide or reproduce on their own. When a virus invades a cell, it takes over the cell’s organelles and forces the cell itself to reproduce the virus in huge numbers. Viruses and bacteria that cause illness in humans are not the same, and therefore are not treated the same.
Let’s take a look at some of the most common misconceptions about the cold and flu:
Going outside with wet hair
A common misconception is that you can catch a cold from going outside with wet hair or going out in the cold without a coat. The only way to catch a cold or flu is through the influenza virus, which can be transmitted in a variety of ways. According to Harvard Medical School, the reason that people associate the flu with cold weather is because flu season happens to coincide with cooler temperatures, but the two are not related.
Catching the flu from the vaccine
A flu shot cannot cause the onset of a flu illness. Flu vaccines administered through a needle are currently formulated in one of two ways: with inactive, non-infectious flu viruses, or with no flu viruses at all, as in recombinant influenza vaccines.
Some people may experience mild symptoms such as soreness, swelling, or redness at the injection site within a few days of their vaccination, but these are most likely the result of the body’s early immune response, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Chicken soup
Some people believe that warm liquids, such as chicken soup or tea, can speed recovery from the cold or flu. While warm liquids may soothe the throat and provide necessary fluids, there is no evidence to suggest that any of these common food or drink items have an impact on the virus itself.
The most common way that viruses such as influenza spread is through contact with an infected person or surface. Studies have shown that human influenza viruses can survive on surfaces such as tables, doorknobs, or books for up to eight hours. According to Harvard Medical School, 20 to 30 per cent of people carrying the influenza virus do not display symptoms, but they can still transmit the virus. The best ways to avoid the flu are frequent hand-washing with soap or using alcohol-based hand sanitizer to kill the virus. Try to sneeze into your sleeve instead of your hands because viruses can be transmitted to whatever you touch, or in the other direction, viruses can move from whatever you have touched into your system as you touch your face. For this reason, minimizing contact with your nose, mouth, and eyes can help to reduce the spread of influenza.
Flu shots are also available for free at various locations, and can help reduce your chances of getting sick this winter.