A cold quiz

How about a short quiz to contribute to our wellness quotient?

Let’s focus on colds and viruses.

Q 1: To decrease your chances of catching a cold, avoid the following:

a. Going outside with wet hair

b. Watching too much TV

c. Sleeping in a draft

Answer: b. A study from Appalachian State University in North Carolina found that exercise reduces the frequency and severity of colds more than any other lifestyle factor. Participants in the study who exercised five times a week took 43% to 46% fewer sick days. And when they did get sick, their symptoms were much milder than their more sedentary peers’ – experts believe that exercise triggers immune cells to temporarily circulate, fighting infection.

Q2: Drinking milk will make a cold worse. True or False?

Answer: False. Researchers in Australia asked adults with a cold to drink milk, then measured their mucus output. No correlation was found between milk intake and mucous.

Q3: Which item is likely to be the germiest?

a. Kitchen sponge

b. Bathtub drain

c. Remote control

d. Toilet seat

Answer: a. Yep, it’s sponges. Though even knowing this does not distract me from using my dishwashing sponge. My main weapon against sickness continues to be aiming to keep my immune system strong. Still, it may not be a bad idea to kill the sponge germs when you can: moisten the sponge, then pop it into the microwave for two minutes.

Q4: Cold viruses can live on inanimate surfaces for

a. 1 hour

b. 8 hours

c. 18 hours

Answer: c. Surprisingly (at least to me) it is 18 hours! In 2007, researcher Birgit Winther at the University of Virginia and colleagues found that cold viruses brought into hotel rooms by guests stayed on door handles, pens, light switches, faucets, remote controls, and telephones for up to 18 hours (samples were taken before the rooms were cleaned). Winther and team also found that iIn homes, some surfaces (such as doorknobs, refrigerator door handles, remote controls, bathroom taps) hosted viruses two days or longer.

Q5: Each of us gets as many as 200 colds in a lifetime. True of False?

Birgit Winther, as reported by PARADE [I know, quite the reliable health source '-)] says it’s so!

Q6: The time between exposure and manifestation of symptoms is

a. Usually two or three days

b. About a day

c. A couple of hours

Answer: a. That’s what this article tells us.

Q7: During a typical day in a closed system (let’s say a high school setting) what is the average number of potential disease-spreading interactions per person?

a. 53

b. 762,868

c. 21,982

Answer: b. Research funded by NSF and NIH used matchbox-sized sensor devices (motes) on lanyards around the necks of high school students, teachers, and staff to record the presence of other nearby motes in determining potential pathogen-spreading opportunities. Defining a single interaction as any 20-second or longer event of mote-to-mote proximity, Salathé and his Stanford University team found that the total number of close-proximity events was 762,868.

Time to redirect toward what we can do about all that exposure --

A few remedies for the symptoms (no cure for colds as they’re caused by gobs of different viruses, like 200 or so, and viruses do NOT respond to antibiotics):

-for the sore throat part: gargling with salt water (1/4 to ½ teaspoon of salt in an 8 oz glass of warm water) is thought to reduce inflammation and thus temporarily relieve the throat soreness or scratchiness.

-for the congestion:

*drink lots of fluids,

*use a humidifier to moisten mucous membranes and help make mucous thinner and less sticky,

*blow your nose the ‘right way’ (with a tissue over your nose, close one nostril and gently blow the other side for three to five seconds, then switch sides),

*drink hot tea or place a warm washcloth on your cheeks to warm your sinuses and possibly nudge the nasal cilia to whisk mucous along.

-for a quicker recovery –

*sip chicken soup: “In one lab study from the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, researcher Stephen Rennard, M.D., discovered that his grandmother-in-law's chicken soup recipe might help relieve some of the inflammation behind cold symptoms. In the test tube, the soup inhibited movement of white blood cells called neutrophils by 75 percent; researchers suspect that in your upper respiratory tract, this curtailed movement could translate into a reduction in cold symptoms.”

*get plenty of rest: it helps the body heal. For more.

To avoid catching a cold:

– Wash your hands – it's still the most reliable way to “drown out” the germs. Lather up your hands for at least 15 seconds with soap and water.

– Guard your immune system - I’m still a huge believer in caring well enough for your body to keep your immune system strong. Just a few ideas:

*eat a well-balanced diet with ample fruits and vegetables,

*get adequate sleep of 7-8 hrs or so nightly,

*exercise regularly,

*decrease stress (when aware of tension, try taking a few deep breaths and consciously release muscle tightness),

*enjoy life's journey and listen to your favorite tunes: WebMD reports that some findings indicate listening to just 30 minutes of music increases IGA levels in the body.

– Use essential oils (eos) as gentle but effective germ fighters – I love lavender and bring it with me wherever I go. Follow the links for more info on eos and specifically on lavender oil; to purchase essential oils check your local natural foods store or here's one source online.

Check this National Institutes of Health site for more on colds in general.

PS: Please take anything you read, even in this blog, with a healthy dose of skepticism - I had a tough time finding primary sources!

Not all swapping of ‘germs’ is bad (if you know what I mean). In this month of Valentine’s Day, may any and all organisms you encounter contribute to your well-being and fill you with love!

And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. - I John 4:16