Three common cold myths you should stop spreading. Replace these “folklore strategies” with facts.

Pedro_P

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What works—and what doesn't—to prevent a cold or flu this winter.
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▼ Parents want the best for their children, but old wives’ tales may be getting in the way. A new poll  of 1,100 moms and popsfrom the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital at the University of Michigan found that seven in 10 caretakers rely on “folklore strategies” to get youngins’ through cold and flu season.
Here are three of the most common healthcare myths, explained:
False: You shouldn’t go outside with wet hair
Illness spreads by the comings and goings of viruses and bacteria (and sometimes fungi, but that’s not really a cold-and-flu season thing). Some infectious agents are more active at lower temperatures; rhinovirus, for example, loves the  human nasal cavity, in part because it’s typically a few degrees colder than the rest of the body. But it really comes down to your interaction with the right germs, despite what 52 percent of parents in the Mott Poll fear. You could get the common cold in July in the Sahara if the right virus was present, and you could make it through a wet-haired winter in the Arctic cold-free if you steered clear of every bad bug.
False: There’s a cold-free environment, if only you could find it
Parents seem to be split on where their children should spend cold season. 48 percent keep their kids indoors to limit the spread of seasonal bugs, while 23 percent of parents encourage their kids to go outside for the same reason. This relies on the same faulty logic as the wet hair myth. But research is firm: it’s not about where you are, it’s about what you’re doing. A sneeze from an infected person can spread disease, whether you’re inside or out.
False: Taking multivitamins prevents colds
The Mott poll also found that 51 percent of parents used over-the-counter medications in the hopes of preventing colds. One of the most popular purchases were multivitamins. The only trouble is, there’s little evidence such pills work. (▪ ▪ ▪)

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Viney Mittal

Very informative. It does help shed some of the old and baseless beliefs. Its a good write up and very welcome. Thanks... :-D

ssangra

Duh ! well there is logic behind a wet head being cause of a cold. Immunity falls when the head is wet.......best way to keep common cold at bay is to boil 1/2 inch of shredded ginger, 3-4 cloves (powdered), black pepper (10-15 powdered), Cinnamon (2 inch strip powdered) , cardamom 2-3 powdered with covers. Drink when warm. Optionally use this in making tea. U may also add saffrom to it. All of these are antiseptics. After drinking the warm water drink the juice and inner pulp of a lemon (possibly for the Vit C content). Drinking this once a day also in winter regularly will prevent a cold altogether. Is also good for people with a kapha contitution or with diabetes.

ssangra

U may optionally add honey but never heat honey or subject it to heat. Add once the mixture is cold. Heating honey turns it toxic.

ssangra

Also came across this on the web "Since young, we’ve been told by our parents that we shouldn’t go out with wet hair or we’d fall sick. Turns out, that isn’t just a myth. Granted wet hair can’t directly cause you to fall sick, it does affect your immune system. Whenever you step out with wet hair, your body struggles to keep warm. Yes, even under the scorching sun. Because you’re losing heat through your head, the struggle to keep warm keeps your immune system working at its optimal rate. This allows germs and bacteria to enter, causing you to eventually fall sick."

dushazmi

Nice read. Many myths are observed by me too.