A Healthy Immune System

Healthy Immune System - The Fight Against Infection

The common cold is an infection of the upper respiratory tract caused by a virus.  Cold weather does not cause colds, although most colds are caught in the fall and winter.  This is because cold viruses thrive better in colder temperatures, when there is less humidity in the air.

There are over 200 viruses that  can cause a cold, but the most common ones are rhinoviruses.  Colds usually strike 18 to 24 hours after the virus enters the body.  Most colds can clear up on their own in a week to ten days, but sometimes a cold can lead to a more serious illness, such as bronchitis, ear infections, or sinus infection. Influenza can remain up to a month.

Healthy adults get an average of two colds per year.  Children tend to get many more because their immune systems are immature, and they have not yet developed immunity to many of the viruses that cause colds.

Common Cold Remedies

The following is a list of some common types of cold remedies that are nonprescription treatments, and what they can and cannot do.

Analgesics, such as acetaminophen, aspirin, and ibuprofen, help relieve aches and pains and reduce fever.  Colds do not usually cause significant fever.  Allowing a low-grade fever to run its course may actually be beneficial; an elevated temperature is one of the body's ways of fighting infection.  If a fever reaches 102 Fahrenheit or higher, chances are something other than the cold is causing it.  It may be a sign of a developing bacteria infection somewhere in the body.  By reducing fever, analgesics may mask the sign.

Antihistamines decrease nasal secretions by blocking the action of histamine, a body chemical that causes swelling of small blood vessels, which results in sneezing and runny nose.  These products cause drowsiness.  In addition, it is better to allow the secretions that contain the virus to flow out of the body rather than trying to block them.

Cough medicines come in two basic types: expectorants and antitussives. Expectorants make coughs more productive by increasing the amount of phlegm and decreasing thickness.  This helps remove irritants from respiratory airways.  Antitussives reduce the amount of coughing.  However coughing is the mechanism for clearing secretions from the lungs.  It is probably best not to suppress it unless coughing is unusually severe or persistent, or it is interfering with sleep.

Decongestants shrink nasal blood vessels to relieve swelling and congestion.  These medications can cause side effects including jitterness, insomnia and fatigue.

Most over-the-counter cold remedies contain some combination of acetaminophen and various decongestants, antihistamines, and cough suppressants.  These ingredients may work against each other.  For example, acetaminophen may increase nasal congestion, while the decongestant decreases it.  If you feel you must take something because the cold is making you feel extremely uncomfortable, then take one single ingredient product appropriate for the particular symptom you are treating.  Most are not tested in children so check with your pediatrician before using any over-the-counter cold remedy.

Healthy Immune Boosters

Vitamin A - build resistance to respiratory infections & aid in proper function of the immune system

Vitamin C (Use buffered form or calcium ascorbate) - Prevention aid in many types of viral and bacterial infections and generally increase the power of the immune system.

Vitamin D - Aid in preventing colds.

Echinacea - Protects the healthy cells from viral and bacterial attack by stimulating activity of the immune system in general. Helpful in lessening the severity of colds and flu, and duration time.

Lipoic Acid - Defender in free radicals, called the universal antioxidant.  It is neither fat-soluble nor water-soluble, enabling it to enhance activity of other antioxidants. For example, when vitamin C is low lipoic acid can fill in temporarily.

Zinc - Immune booster, doses of 150 mg. may inhibit immune response.

Since there is no cure for the common cold, the best approach is "prevention."

"To find out proper doses of supplements for a prevention and maintenance program use as directed by a health care practitioner."

Referenes:
1. Matsen, Dr. John (2008) Eating Alive, Crompton Books Ltd. North Vancouver, BC.