Busting cold and flu myths
OLDER PEOPLE GET MORE COLDS FALSE
“THE opposite is usually true,” says Dr Perry. “Children get three times as many colds as adults – and over-50s catch only half as many as teenagers. It’s because they will have been exposed to more colds in their lifetime so have more antibodies to common cold viruses than younger people.”
CHICKEN SOUP CAN CURE A COLD NOT QUITE
DR PERRY says: “It won’t actually cure a cold but has been known to help alleviate symptoms. In fact, any hot drink will help because the heat dilates blood vessels, which increases blood flow and allows the mucus to flush everything out, thus helping with congestion. There’s also the hydrating factor of drinking soup which is important when ill.”
GOING OUT WITH WET HAIR IS A COLD RISK FALSE
THIS myth arose because people thought the body’s heat escaped through the head, explains Dr Perry. “In fact, you lose just as much, if not more heat, through a bare arm or leg as through your head.”
But it is thought that being cold can leave you more vulnerable to illness, adds Dr Henderson: “When we shiver, our whole body becomes quite stressed, which depresses the immune system.”
FLYING WILL INCREASE YOUR RISK OF CATCHING A COLD OR FLU TRUE
DR PERRY says: “Studies have shown more than one in five people on planes suffer from a cold or the flu after the flight.
“Some of the 200 or so viruses that can cause a common cold can infect people up to 18 hours after they have left the body. And flu viruses can infect people for up to eight hours after being let loose.
“Germs are commonplace on planes, with bacteria and viruses lurking on seats, magazines, armrests, toilet cubicles and hovering in the air. So you certainly risk infection on a flight.”
YOU CAN’T CATCH THE SAME COLD TWICE TRUE
“THERE are around 200 cold viruses, and, on average, we catch a couple each winter,” says Dr Henderson. “However, once the cold ends, your body has built up immunity which will protect you from catching the same virus again.”
VITAMIN C STOPS A COLD NOT QUITE
A REVIEW of placebo-controlled trials using at least 200mg/day vitamin C found it “did not significantly reduce the risk of developing a cold in the general population”, says GP David Edwards.
“However, trials in skiers, marathon runners and soldiers exposed to extreme physical exercise and/or cold environments who took ■
YOU SHOULD FEED A COLD AND STARVE A FEVER FALSE
“EATING fewer calories can actually make fighting off infection much harder,” says Dr Perry. “Nutritious hot drinks and soups – if you can’t face solids – are vital.”
IT CAN BE TOO LATE TO GET THE FLU VACCINE FALSE
DR Perry says: “Although the flu vaccine is normally offered from September until mid November to give the body a chance to build up immunity, it’s better to be protected later rather than not at all.”
A HOT TODDY WILL HELP EASE A COLD FALSE
ALCOHOL suppresses the immune system, leaving you potentially more prone to viral infections.
‘MAN FLU’ DOESN’T EXIST TRUE
THE term was created because medical research suggests that men take longer to recover from colds and flu, and suffer more side effects than women.
I’VE HAD FLU, SO DON’T NEED THE JAB FALSE
THERE are various strains of flu around and, even if you have had flu, it is worth having the jab to prevent another bout of the illness hitting your immune system.
IT’S SAFE TO KISS SOMEONE WITH A COLD TRUE
IT is very hard to catch a cold by exchanging saliva as the virus travels in mucus from the respiratory system.