Giving you the lowdown on the common cold

Winter is well on its way and there is definitely a spine-chilling breeze in the air. In a calendar year, on average, people get the common cold two to three times and these despised occurrences are amplified by coughing, sneezing and running noses.

The question I would like to ask is, “Do you actually know how a cold attacks your body?”

The cold virus passes through your nasal passage to the back of the throat where it is deposited in an area called the adenoid. This is a lymph gland where the virus attaches and cause havoc.

Once the virus has attached, it infects the cell and then starts to multiply from within. The virus particles are much smaller than the cell and therefore will keep replicating until the cell is full. The cell eventually erupts and the virus is released into the nasal passage.

From the time the virus enters the nose, it takes roughly eight to 12 hours for the viral reproduction and for the virus to enter your system.

Colds reach their peak within 36 to 72 hours but typically don’t last more than a week.

Once your body detects that there is a virus, your immune system springs into action and produces and releases antibodies. There are white “T” and “B” cells which form your body’s internal army.

Your “T” cells have a few functions.

They help by sounding the alarm when the body is under attack, they destroy the infected cells or help “B” cells to produce more antibodies.

The “B” cells’ job is to bind to the virus and invariably tag them as the enemy so that other blood cells can clearly see them and destroy them.

Once your “T” and “B” cells have killed off the virus, they become specialist cells and remain in your body.

If this particular strain of virus attacks your body again, they will already have the exact action plan to destroy the virus in half the time.

The main problem with colds is that they have been mutating for generations into different strands and that is why we get colds a couple of times a year.

I think it is also important to debunk a couple of myths that your mom or granny have probably been neurotic about over the years.

Being wet or cold does not cause a cold. It is caused when you are infected with the virus particle through someone sneezing, via hand-to-mouth contact or by someone who is already affected coughing in your general direction.

According to the McKinley Health Centre at the University of Illinois, you are likely to have a higher probability of a viral attack when your immune system is low.

This can result through a lack of adequate sleep, poor eating habits, or being in an environment with people who are sick.

Furthermore, McKinley Health Centre mentions that there are no prescriptions or antibiotics which will speed up the healing process, but there are some clever natural ways to do so.

In the first 72 hours it is critically important to have eight to 10 hours of sleep, and exercise should be withheld between 48 to 72 hours to allow your body to have ample energy to fight off the attack.

Ensure you drink 300ml per 1kg body weight every day. Fluids help keep mucus more liquid and thus help to clear it out.

Lastly, take a hot steamy bath or shower.

The steam helps to release any congestion you may have in your chest and nasal passages.

If, however, your condition deteriorates, then book yourself an appointment with your local doctor.