Cold feet? We dispel the top 10 cold myths
“Mom, why did I get sick?” Children ask a lot of questions and they should, because they cannot explain everything themselves. In our infographic we show children in a cute way how a cold occurs and what you can do yourself to prevent it.
Everyone knows them and nobody forgets them – cold myths. Even if not all of them are true, they remain present. In keeping with the autumn and winter season, we have put the 10 most well-known myths about colds under the microscope for you. Now nothing can fool you!
There are myths about every subject. But the vast majority can be found on the subject of a cold. Year after year, people come up to you and promise THE perfect solution to an annoying cough or runny nose, or they know exactly why you caught a cold in the first place. We are often skeptical, but try our luck anyway, hoping that this time it might be right. Here you can find out which cold fairy tales have survived to this day and which of them are really true.
1. Cold feet are to blame
That’s not true! Of course, you should always dress according to the weather conditions. A scarf, hat, gloves and warm socks are all part of the right outfit on cold days. But what affects the body even more than the cold is warm, dry air and a room full of people. Heating air dries out the mucous membranes, so that the immune system can no longer fight off cold viruses as well. If there are many other people in the room, the viruses spread. In addition to thorough hand washing, frequent airing is therefore the be-all and end-all to protect yourself from cold viruses.
2. A cold comes 3 days, stays 3 days, goes 3 days
Almost right! The duration of a cold always depends on the respective viruses that have settled in the body and there are at least 200 different ones. In principle, however, it is correct that a cold subsides within 7-9 days. However, it can sometimes take up to 14 days for all symptoms to disappear.
3. Chicken soup helps with colds
Is correct! At least in a certain way, because the soup warms you up and is good for the sick person. Another positive effect: Thanks to the liquid, the mucous membranes are kept moist and can thus ward off further viruses. However, it is scientifically disputed whether the ingredients in the vegetables and meat in the soup actually work against the common cold.
4. Hot milk with honey helps against a sore throat
Is correct! Warming liquid helps particularly well with a sore throat or a dry throat. It doesn’t really matter whether it’s milk, tea or hot water. The main thing is that it tastes good. A teaspoon of honey relieves a sore throat.
Important : Children under the age of one year must not eat honey, as honey contains germs that can be dangerous for the small organism.
5. Onion juice relieves coughing
Is correct! Thanks to its essential oils and flavonoids, onion juice has a germicidal effect and helps against inflammation, just like normal cough syrup. This combination of valuable ingredients in the onion soothes the bronchial tubes and thus the urge to cough. It is worth a try!
6. Vitamin C protects against colds
Mostly not true! Except for extreme athletes, the preventive intake of vitamin C supplements has no influence on the risk of colds. The only possible positive effect is that the cold doesn’t last as long. However, it is so low that it is not necessary to supplement your daily, healthy diet with vitamin C.
7. No sport when you have a cold
Partially true. It is important that you listen to your body now. If you feel physically fit and really only have a slight cold, gentle endurance sports are definitely allowed. Make sure that your body does not cool down too much. However, if you already have severe cold symptoms or even a fever, then sport is taboo for the time being. Your body now needs all of its energy to fight the cold virus.
8. Flu and flu-like effect are the same
That’s not true! If you suffer from a cough and runny nose, your family doctor will surely tell you that you have a flu-like infection. This is a cold and not, as is often assumed, the flu. In contrast to a cold, the flu (med. Influenza) is a really severe illness that, in addition to the usual cold symptoms, is accompanied by high fever and a strong feeling of weakness. It can even be life-threatening for older or chronically ill people.
9. A flu shot also protects against the common cold
That’s not true! It actually only protects against the real flu (influenza) and this is not the same as a cold. If you have received such a flu shot, you may still catch a cold. It is not yet possible to vaccinate against the various cold viruses.
10. Antibiotics help with colds
That’s not true! Antibiotics work against bacteria and not against viruses. However, a cold is caused by viruses, so antibiotics do not help here. However, if the common cold causes other diseases, such as tonsillitis, the doctor can prescribe an antibiotic in severe cases.