Course “101”: Treating and Preventing Colds
25 Feb 2007
"How do you treat a cold?" Sir William Osler was once asked by a colleague. He was one of this country’s greatest physicians. "I tell them to go to bed, hang their hat on the bedpost, start drinking whiskey and stop when they see two hats", he replied. This facetious remark had some merit years ago. But today there’s less chance of a hangover and greater chance of relief if you use a more modern therapy.
It’s hard to escape the cold virus. Consider the number of times a friend blew his nose, then had no hesitation in shaking your hand. Every day we also touch door handles, telephones and other objects infected with the virus. And studies show the virus is alive and well 24 hours after an infected person has left a hotel room.
So the next time you feel a cold coming on, what treatments are available and which ones make the most sense?
Some authorities advise taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as Aspirin or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) as soon as you feel a symptom. There’s no evidence these drugs will stop a cold or decrease its length, but they will help you feel better. But don’t take Aspirin if you’re under 16 years of age. On rare occasions Aspirin can cause Rye’s Syndrome in children, a serious disease of the nervous system.
Some doctors also suggest the addition of an antihistamine such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl), brompheniramine (Dimetapp) or chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Tripolon). These older anti-histamine drugs make you drowsy, so don’t take them if you plan to drive a car.
NSAIDs and antihistamines can be taken every 12 hours for four to seven days. If you have a troublesome cough, Robitussin may be helpful. And if you can’t breath well, an oral decongestant such as Sudafed can clear the nasal passages.
What about vitamin C? I’ve been an advocate of large doses of vitamin C. But this winter, in spite of this routine, I suffered a severe and prolonged cold. I continue to take this vitamin for other reasons.
Studies show that Mother’s advice about having a hot bowl of chicken soup to fight a cold has some merit. Researchers at Mt. Sinai Hospital in Miami showed by using radioactive material, that chicken soup speeds up the removal of nasal mucous.
Can you "Zinc-Shrink" a cold? Studies at the University of California say there is no sound evidence that zinc has any appreciable effect on fighting the common cold. But the journal, Annals of Internal Medicine, reports a study at the Cleveland Clinic that showed high doses of zinc decreased cold symptoms by three days.
Cold-FX is the most recent addition to cold therapies. It has the added benefit that it helps to prevent colds. That’s why several NHL teams and CFL players routinely take Cold-FX to keep them healthy. It’s made Cold-FX the number one cold remedy in Canada. Recently Health Canada posted its seal of approval, allowing Cold-FX to be packaged with scientific evidence that it reduces the frequency, severity and duration of a cold.
The Cold-FX pill is an isolated compound derived from North American ginseng and strengthens the immune system to fend off viral infection. It works by boosting the effects of natural killer and antibody producing cells. Moreover, its unique and patented technology ensures safety, efficiency and consistency of dosage.
Clinical trials show Cold-FX to be 89 percent effective and can be used on a daily basis to prevent colds or when a cold strikes. Cold-FX doesn’t make you drowsy and there are no known side effects,
To combat a current cold 9 capsules are taken the first day, 6 the second and 3 the final day. But to prevent a cold one capsule is taken twice daily. And since it’s a non-prescription drug it’s available in many locations.
So Dr. Osler if alive today, would have more than a bottle of whiskey up his sleeve to fight the common cold.
