Fighting the Common Cold

Stopping the winter cold cycle is well worth reading.  It exposes many counter-myths about the common cold.  I say counter-myths, because for years docs have been telling us that exposure had nothing to do with catching a cold.  Recent research however, shows our anecdotal knowledge is correct - if we get cold and wet, we are more likely to catch a cold. 

Believe it or not, the cold viruses are primarily passed through our nose.  Consequently, you are unlikely to spread a cold by kissing - the cold viruses attack the cells that line our nose.  The reason you feel lousy with a cold is that your body is producing chemicals such as cytokines which fight the virus, but have the side affect of making us tired, feverish, and so on. 

Something else - you know that celery-colored mucous after a few days of a cold?  That is your body cleansing of of the green iron-containing enzymes it has been producing to fight the cold viruses. 

Curiosities: Is it possible to catch the same cold more than once? tells that over 100 rhinovirus strains affect people.  After catching a cold, you do usually develop an immunity to that specific strain.  The second cold you catch in a season is probably caused by an unfamiliar virus.