Typically, we attribute colds to air conditioners, wind, and low temperatures. It's even believed by some that one cannot contract the common cold more than once in a single season.
A few of us are also certain that taking antibiotics will stop a cold from becoming the flu. You won't trust these or any other cold-related facts after reading this article.
1. Myth: The flu can develop from a cold.
Since the viruses that cause the flu and the common cold differ from one another, they cannot co-occur. Early symptoms of these conditions are frequently misinterpreted. various characteristics can be used to distinguish between various diseases:
Runny nose, fever, headache, and sore throat are the first signs of a cold. A person has symptoms of a cold in three to five days. A fever, headache, aches in the muscles, and sudden soreness are all symptoms of the flu.
Your body temperature rarely rises while you have a cold (and when it does, it does so very slightly). Your body temperature increases to 100°F or more when you have the flu.
When you have the flu, you don't sneeze as much; that's a cold symptom.
2. Myth: Antibiotics can be used to treat a cold.
Since viruses have a different structure than bacteria, antibiotics are unable to treat them. Furthermore, taking antibiotics may worsen the situation because the virus will still spread and the symptoms of the cold won't go away.
Additionally, taking antibiotics is discouraged. In contrast, this will weaken your immune system and foster an environment that is conducive to the virus's growth.
Since bacteria may adapt to survive when exposed to antibiotics, the medication loses its effectiveness over time.
3. Myth: One may not cure a cold.
The typical duration of a cold is three days. However, if you ignore your cold and wait for complications to arise, you may endure uncomfortable symptoms for up to 30 days.
Caution: If you feel like you're having trouble breathing or are experiencing shortness of breath, you should call an ambulance.
4. Myth: If you have a cold, you shouldn't take sick time.
If they feel ill, most people normally carry on with their work. It's also said that your cold will clear up quicker if you don't give yourself time to unwind. The healing process will actually go more slowly.
It's preferable to return to work after spending one or two days at home. One further reason to stay indoors during the first few days of a cold is that you can spread the illness to other people.
5. Myth: Always remain in bed.
Staying in bed all day when sick can increase your risk of developing pneumonia or bronchitis. Additionally, there is a decrease in blood circulation.
While it's not a good idea to hit the gym as soon as you feel a little better, doing some light exercise won't hurt.
6. Myth: Colds can arise from cold air.
Whether you wear a hat or not, the only way you can get a cold is if you come into contact with a virus. You may stop blaming the wind, the air conditioner, and so on. It's untrue if you believe that your illness was caused by the low temperature after your flight.
In actuality, dry air dries up mucous membranes, making it more difficult for the body to defend against infections.
7. Myth: You'll get a cold if you go outside with wet hair.
A cold or the flu cannot be brought on by our damp hair, the wind, or the rain. Three routes exist for viral transmission: Remember that viruses can be quite powerful and persistent.
They survive:
on hands for a few minutes or an hour (depending on the type of virus)
on door handles for six hours
on interior surfaces for longer than seven days
on clothing, upholstery, or paper for around twelve hours
Naturally, going outside with wet hair is not advised because cold weather compromises immunity and increases susceptibility to viruses.
8. Myth: A cold can only be contracted once per season.
The good news is that you are not likely to get the same cold repeatedly. Viruses are what cause colds, and your immune system develops antibodies to those viruses when it battles them. However, there are still over 200 different virus kinds that can cause colds, so you could still get sick again.
9. Myth: You can get over a cold in a day.
Some people believe you can recover from an illness in a single day if you take numerous different medications.
Nevertheless, this myth is perilous. Drugs that just relieve symptoms might have hazardous effects on the heart, so it's important to give your body enough time to heal.
With drugs that contain paracetamol, you should exercise caution as well because taking too much of these might cause liver damage.
10. Myth: Before returning to your regular life, you need get rid of any symptoms.
There's no need to wait until all symptoms go because a post-viral cough and runny nose can linger for up to four weeks. You might resume your regular life if you feel good.
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