Questions tagged [common-cold]
Common term for an upper-respiratory viral infection caused by any number of viral agents. Cold is commonly identified by the symptoms, which are characterized by cough, sneezing, sore throat, congestion, fever and other symtoms
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Do UV air purifiers reduce the risk of being infected by the common cold or the flu?
I've seen several manufacturers make the claim that UV-C air purifiers can prevent the common cold and flu - primarily due to the destruction of viruses. (The ones that only purify air by filtering ...
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Does ingesting baking soda prevent and reduce symptoms of a cold or 'flu?
I saw two of my friends on FB recommending ingesting baking soda to reduce fever.Searching for this, it seems to be common advice all over the internet.
Some of these are for applying baking soda ...
user22865
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Does inhaling steam from fresh-boiled potatoes help with a cold/flu cough or congestion?
Growing up in Russia, almost everyone I knew used this remedy. Here's Internet example.
Fortunately, half an hour is just enough time for you to boil a big pot of potatoes. Remove them from the ...
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Effectiveness of Cold-EEZE, zinc gluconate glycine lozenges [duplicate]
What is the truth behind the effectiveness of Cold-EEZE (http://www.coldeeze.com/)? The product claims to be homephathic (which is a pseudo-science) but there seems to be actual, evidence-based ...
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Does not wearing a coat when it's "cold" out make you sick? [duplicate]
I live in Maryland, where today it was about 50°F. I have heard this before, but my parents told me to wear my coat outside at school because the cold would "make me sick." Is it really true that ...
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Is Hyland's 4 Kids Cough and Cold medicine effective?
There appear to be numerous anecdotal claims from parents on Amazon (and my wife's Facebook) of this product being the cough and cold cure their children needed;
http://www.amazon.com/Hylands-Relief-...
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Does sweating help to cure the flu
Many people advise you to put some warm clothes on, get under the blankets and sweat a lot to help cure flu/fever.
On one hand there is a lot of opinion on the Internet saying that it does not work, ...
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Does a physical barrier such as Vaseline help prevent a cold or flu during air-travel?
This site claims that this action will help prevent you getting sick during air-travel:
try applying a small amount of Neosporin or petroleum jelly just inside the nostrils (use a Q-tip if your ...
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Can nasal spray with eucalyptus help prevent further infections?
I had a terrible cold last week, and bought "Otrivin Zoutoplossing Plus Eucalyptus" (site in Dutch) nasal spray to help with the congtion.
This particular type contains a salt solution and Eucalyptus;...
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Is there a correlation between cold and illnesses generally perceived as cold-related? [duplicate]
Cold weather is usually considered to be one of the causes of common cold, flu, influenza, pneumonia etc., especially in winter.
However, many believe that these illnesses may be mainly caused not by ...
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Does zinc help with colds and flus? [closed]
This question doesn't duplicate the more limited one on Zicam; I ask here about zinc in general.
No: Mayo Clinic (from which I quote below) and WebMD are skeptical.
Since then, research has ...
user16959
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Can cold viruses remain dormant in your bones, and later emerge when you are exposed to cold temperatures?
I was recently hiking in mountains with some colleagues after a business trip. None of us had proper gear for 2000m, and consequently were rather cold. Now, all of us have advanced degrees in ...
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Does ginger help against the common cold?
My wife is treating all cold symptons in the family with a few spoons of freshly ground ginger juice mixed with honey.
While I don't mind an occasional placebo, drinking ginger juice is unpleasant ...
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Do we catch a cold when we get wet in rain?
Do we get sick when we get wet in rain while nothing happens when we stand in the shower?
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Does blowing your nose and clearing lungs help you get better?
Does removing phlegm from your body help your body get rid of bad bugs (virus) or does it just relieve your congestion symptoms?
Relatedly if clearing your body does help, then do decongestants ...
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Are ecinacea-based products effective against a colds and flu-like illnesses? [duplicate]
Health food shops usually stock a range of products based on ecinacea extracts that are claimed to be effective against colds and flu-like diseases. The Holland & Barrett website lists 15, for ...
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Have throat lozenges been shown to be ineffective?
I am currently suffering a sore throat. I have purchased some Betadine (gargleable iodine) which I believe and hope actually helps reduce the extent of the infection.
At the risk of derision, I will ...
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Does drinking alcohol help a sore throat?
I've heard lots of people claim that whisky or rum or "hot toddies" help with symptoms of a sore throat or a cold.
Does it really or is it just people feeling more relaxed because they had a drink?
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Do changes in weather make people more likely to get sick? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Is time of the year a factor on the risk of catching a common cold?
I've heard this from my father and I feel like I've experienced it personally, but I can't tell whether or ...
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Does wearing a scarf help a sore throat?
Today, my wife has shocked me by telling me that a scarf does not and cannot help a sore throat. I could swear that it works wonders for me!
Pretty much the entire knowledgable Internet seems to ...
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Does warm green onion cure the common cold?
In Japan it is sometimes said a remedy for the common cold is to wear a warm green onion (Allii Fistulosi) around the neck. This practice is not as popular as before, but still many other articles ...
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Is Pentoxyverine (in cough syrup) effective in suppressing a cough?
The main cough medicine I use (I am in Australia) contains Pentoxyverine as an active ingredient. The wikipedia article for this chemical states the outcome of reducing a cough, but curiously states ...
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Do dairy products cause phlegm to build or thicken?
It is a common advice, perpetuated by many parents, and even some doctors, that if you have a cold, you should avoid dairy products, because they cause phlegm to build up or thicken. See e.g. Foods ...
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Can your toothbrush reinfect you if you have a cold?
I was in a supermarket yesterday and saw the following on a toothbrush:
I found the advice repeated on the Colgate website:
It is also very important to change toothbrushes after you've had a cold,...
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Does honey cure or alleviate the symptoms of a common cold?
A friend of mine insists that downing honey by the heaping tablespoon at the first sign of a cold will alleviate the symptoms, shorten the duration of the cold, or prevent it entirely - any and all of ...
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Do disposable face masks prevent or significantly reduce the spread of disease?
Our local Pediatrician's office and General Practitioner's office both have a policy of giving a disposable face mask to each patient or visitor who has a noticeable cough or runny nose, and insist ...
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Is time of the year a factor on the risk of catching a common cold?
Most people have heard the phrase "summer cold." Is there any truth to the concept that people are more prone to the common cold during summer months? More generally, is there any particular (...
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"Feed a cold, starve a fever"?
Is there any truth behind this phrase? I was always skeptical and figured that the body needed energy from food to fight whatever illness it may have.
I have even heard people say it in reverse: "...
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Does homeopathic zinc (Zicam) help with the common cold?
I'm sick, and my friend had me buy store brand Zicam to help with it. Looking at the bottle after taking it, I thought the ingredients were written strangely. "Zincum Aceticum 2x", it says, when I ...
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Does echinacea reduce the length and severity of symptoms for the common cold?
Echinacea bottles at my local food supplement store claim that taking the pills will reduce the length and severity of symptoms experienced when infected with the common cold.
Do these claims have ...
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Does being cold increase your chances of catching the common cold?
"Everyone knows" - a scary statement - that you get "a cold" from being cold. Now it seems to be a fact that you don't, because you get a cold from a (rhino)virus, not from the temperature.
But is ...
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