The sniffling and coughing sounds of winter are here again, and myths about the common cold appear to circulate almost as quickly as the germs themselves. KSMU’s Kristian Kriner spoke with one local doctor who identified myth versus reality regarding the common cold.

 

 

This time of year, doctors’ waiting rooms are filled with runny noses, constant coughing and germs.

 

Not to mention the frequent “achoos” and the “bless yous” that follow.

 

With the common cold being so “common,” naturally there are myths about how a cold is acquired, and how to get rid of one.

 

Brian Williams is a doctor at Cox’s Walnut Lawn Urgent Care.

 

He says the biggest myth about the common cold is that it can be treated with antibiotics.

 

“The good news is that there are medications that can treat the symptoms and I think that’s really what patients are concerned about the most are the symptoms. And so can treat that, and that’s really sometimes where we focus our treatment when it comes to the common cold,” Williams said.

 

Williams says the best medications to take are the over-the-counter drugs that treat symptoms like a runny nose and coughing.

 

He says those medications also help stop the spread of germs, because they help the individual to stop sneezing.

 

Another common myth is that the common cold can be caught from being outside in cold weather.

 

Williams says the common cold is contracted by being exposed to people who are sick.

 

He adds that its most commonly spread through the air.

 

“It just so happens that our cold season tends to correspond with cold weather months. There’s been theories about why that happens. Some people think that because we’re indoors more because it’s cold outside, we’re doing less outdoor activities, so we’re in close proximity to one another, and we can be exposed to all those runny noses and sneezes,” Williams said.

 

Williams says people should stay away from those with colds and practice good hand washing.

 

He says the last myth about the common cold is that the coughing, sore throat and the runny nose are caused by the virus.

 

“A person who is experiencing a cold and are feeling symptoms; those symptoms are a result of the bodies fighting off the infection and not actually the infection. Usually, the more severe those symptoms are the more that person’s immune system is working for them,” Williams said.

 

Williams says people think they catch colds because their immune systems are weak.

 

But this doctor says anyone, no matter how healthy, is susceptible to the common cold.

 

He says there are some old wives tales like taking a shot of whiskey or extra vitamin C to get rid of the nasty cold.

 

But Williams says the best thing to do is take over-the-counter medication, drink plenty of fluids, get more sleep and just wait it out.

 

For KSMU News, I’m Kristian Kriner.