Who gave me a cold?

The Snowman.

Rayray17 said:

There are no snowmen here - yet!

REDFEATHERS said:

Then who have u been swaping spit with?

Rayray17 said:

Nobody!!!

Sorry, i've been choked with

a nasty one for a week now

and i accidentally sneezed on

the pc screen whilst visiting the org

Here, take one of my

Abbie said:

Thank you

They say it's the flue season so be safe. Close all your windows and drink some Thuroflu whil u stay warm.

Just got over mine.
You will need a few days and you will be fine.

I licked you lips earlier in the week, but I haven't had so much as a sniffle!

I've read somewhere that the flu that a lot of people are "suffering" from now originated in Belgium.
So you can blame them for your cold (and for kicking Ajax out of the champions league)

yup it's official: Red has been copping off with the snow man.

It's all that travel! Take care of you.

are you sure it isn't flu?
don't take any aspirin because there can be complications if you do have the flu.


What Are the Symptoms?


One to three days after catching a cold virus, symptoms begin suddenly. They start with a burning feeling in the nose or throat. Next comes sneezing, a runny nose, and the feeling of being tired and unwell.

For the first few days, your nose teems with watery nasal secretions. Later, these become thicker and darker. Dark mucus does not necessarily mean that you have developed a bacterial infection.

You may get a mild cough. It won't get much worse, but it is likely to last into the second week of your illness. If you suffer from chronic bronchitis, a cold will make it worse. If you are coughing up dark material -- or if you are feeling a lot of distress low down in your lungs -- you may have a bacterial infection. These symptoms can also be caused by a cold virus other than a rhinovirus.

Usually there is no fever -- in fact, fever and more severe symptoms may indicate that you have the flu and not a cold.

Cold symptoms settle in between one and four days after you are infected by a cold virus and typically last for about three days. At that point the worst is over, but you may feel congested for a week or more. During the first three days that you have symptoms, you are contagious. This means you can pass the cold to others, so please stay home and get some rest.

Except in newborns, colds themselves are not dangerous. They usually go away in four to 10 days without any special medicine. Unfortunately, colds do wear down your body's resistance, making you more susceptible to bacterial infections.

If your cold is nasty enough, seek medical attention. Your doctor likely will examine your throat and ears. He or she may take a throat culture by brushing your throat with a long cotton-tipped swab. This will show whether you have a bacterial infection, which requires treatment with antibiotics.

Call Your Doctor If:

You notice an inability to swallow.
You have a sore throat for more than five days.
You have an earache.
You have a stiff neck or sensitivity to bright lights.
Your are pregnant or nursing.
Your newborn or infant has cold symptoms.
Your throat hurts and your temperature is 101 degrees F or higher.
Your cold symptoms worsen after the third day. You may have a bacterial infection.









What Are the Treatments?


Since there is no cure for the common cold, treatment has two goals: to make you feel better, and to help you fight off the virus.

Lots of rest is the key. You may find you need 12 hours of sleep each night, so don't set that alarm. You'll be most comfortable in a warm, humid environment. It's also important to drink lots of water. This makes mucus flow more freely and helps with congestion.

No specific treatment exists for the virus that is causing your cold, but in treating your symptoms you can find relief. For aches and pains accompanied by a fever of 100.5 degrees F or higher, give Tylenol rather than aspirin to avoid the risk of Reye's syndrome, a sometimes fatal condition that occurs in children with viral illnesses, especially if they have taken aspirin. If your throat is sore, gargle as often as you like with salt water (1/2 teaspoon salt in 1 cup water).

Think twice before using heavily advertised over-the-counter cold and flu medications, which likely contain drugs for symptoms you don't have and therefore may result in needless overtreatment. Avoid them entirely for children under age 13. Even cold preparations marketed especially for children don't seem to work for this age group, and the drugs commonly induce drowsiness, making everything worse.

Over-the-counter decongestants containing pseudoephedrine can help dry and clear nasal passages, but only temporarily. Decongestant nasal sprays can help, too -- but watch out! Decongestants used for more than five days may cause a "rebound" effect. This means more mucus and worse congestion. Pseudoephedrine may increase blood pressure and heart rate. Do not take it without first checking with your doctor if you have heart disease, high blood pressure, prostate problems, diabetes, or thyroid problems.

Over-the-counter decongestants containing phenylpropanolamine have been pulled voluntarily from the shelves because they increase the risk of stroke. If you have a drug containing this ingredient, also called PPA, throw it away.

Over-the-counter cough suppressants, such as those containing dextromethorphan, can be helpful if your cough is so severe that it interferes with sleeping or talking. Otherwise, allow yourself to cough as you need to (always covering your mouth as you do), because coughing removes mucus and germs from your throat and lungs.

Antihistamines seem to help some people, but their effect during colds remains controversial.

Good nutrition is essential for resisting and recovering from a cold. Eat a balanced diet. Take supplements as needed to ensure you are receiving the recommended dietary allowances for vitamin A, the vitamin B complex (vitamins B-1, B-2, B-5, B-6, folic acid) and vitamin C, as well as the minerals zinc and copper. Both vitamin C and zinc are essential for production of infection-fighting neutrophils; without adequate levels, you're an easy mark for all types of infections. Evidence is not clear on whether zinc lozenges or tablets cut colds short -- you can find studies supporting either side of the issue.

Despite much research, the jury is still out on whether vitamin C can help prevent or shorten colds. There have been several large studies in adults and in children, but the results have been inconclusive. Taking a lot of vitamin C over a long period of time can be harmful.

While you have a cold, avoid dairy products, which tend to make mucus thicker.

Chicken soup has been heralded as a cold therapy since the 12th century. Recent scientific evidence shows mild support for the notion that chicken soup reduces cold symptoms, especially congestion.

Asian healing treatments often use hot soups to treat upper respiratory infections, making use of red pepper, lemongrass, and ginger in particular. Any food spicy enough to make your eyes water will have the same effect on your nose, promoting drainage. If you feel like eating, a hot, spicy soup it may help ease your symptoms.

To ease cold symptoms, the essential oils of aromatherapy may be rubbed on the body, inhaled with steam, diffused into the air, or poured on a cloth to be used as a compress. Try rubbing diluted eucalyptus oil on the chest as a decongestant, or inhale eucalyptus or peppermint oil to clear stuffiness. Adding lavender, cedar, or lemon to steam may also soothe nasal passages. Inhaling menthol not only provides relief from nasal congestion, but might help inhibit infection as well. Rosemary, thyme, mint, basil, and tea tree oils can also provide relief from symptoms of a cold. Use caution if you have asthma, since aromatherapy can trigger an attack.

Many Americans turn to herbal remedies to ease cold symptoms. Some research supports the use of the Chinese herbal remedies yin chao and gan mao ling. Rather than self-prescribe, it's best to consult an expert practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).

Echinacea may help strengthen the immune system by stimulating the activity of white blood cells, but there is little evidence that it can prevent colds in particular. Several studies show adults using echinacea at the first sign of a cold suffered shorter and less severe illness. Because herbs are so poorly regulated and labeled in the United States, however, it's difficult to know if the product you're using contains the right species and active ingredient. If you decide to try echinacea, take small doses for no more than eight weeks, since prolonged use may suppress your immune system.

Little research exists to support the use of other herbs, such as astragalus, eyebright, elder flower, garlic, ginseng, goldenseal, or yarrow.

Reviewed by Charlotte E. Grayson, MD, December 2001.

Winter sucks!

here's a good link on cold/flu

http://www.fda.gov/opacom...s&flu.html

REDFEATHERS said:

have a cold too, so i can give you this:

REDFEATHERS said:

U can give it to me if U like.

REDFEATHERS said:

my cold is all gone!

...

EllisDee said:

Ya just had to do it huh?