The common cold is for everyone

Cold viruses come in from the cold
Even if more colds seem to occur in the winter, scientists assure us that cold weather does not cause colds, nor does going outside with wet hair or standing in puddles. Only viruses can cause a cold.

The explanation for the cold weather association is simple. When temperatures take a nosedive in the late fall and winter, people spend less time outside and more indoors. That makes for more togetherness, and it’s easier for the cold virus to get passed from one person to the next. All it takes to catch a cold is for you to touch something that someone with a cold has handled before you—a doorknob, a pen, a telephone. If you then put your hand to your nose, mouth, or eyes, the virus may make its way into your body, and you may then get that cold, too.

Down with the sniffles and sneezes
You’re probably all too familiar with the symptoms of a cold. Topping the list of affected body parts is the nose, which can be runny or stuffy. Sneezing is common as well. Your eyes may water, and your throat may feel sore or scratchy. A cough, slight headache, low-grade fever, and body aches round out the unpleasant picture.

Drinking plenty of liquids—for example, water, juice, or clear broth—can help. And yes, chicken soup actually does work. It both loosens the mucus that causes congestion and prevents dehydration. Caffeinated drinks like coffee and colas, on the other hand, contribute to dehydration. Other warm liquids may relieve a sore throat.

In addition to drinking fluids, exposing yourself to humidity also helps. If you don’t have a cool-mist humidifier, you can put your head over a sink or bowl full of hot water with a towel over your head to create a tent effect. You also can stand in the bathroom and breathe in steamy air from a hot shower.

Remedies
People with colds often ask their doctors for prescriptions for antibiotics. But these drugs are powerless against viruses. However, pain relievers—especially acetaminophen (such as Tylenol)—can reduce fever and ease headaches and sore throats. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen also work, although they may upset the stomach.
Decongestant sprays or nose drops shrink swollen nasal tissues and help open up a stuffed nose. But don’t use them for more than 2 or 3 days—they may have a rebound effect, causing even more congestion.

If you have heart or kidney disease, high blood pressure, glaucoma, thyroid problems, or diabetes, speak with your doctor before using decongestants. Another option to relieve congestion is saline nose drops or sprays.

Avoid antihistamines when you have a cold. Although they work well for allergies, they tend to dry out nasal membranes and slow down mucus flow that gets rid of germs. Cough medications are unlikely to help, either. The same is true of echinacea, vitamin C, and zinc. However, zinc lozenges labeled ionized—a chemical formulation—may reduce the duration of symptoms.