Common Cold Myths – Busted!
House Call Doctor dispels some famous common cold myths.
Here are some myths about the common cold that are JUST NOT TRUE:
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You don’t get a cold by letting your feet get cold, going to bed with wet hair, or going outside without a jacket. No matter how many moms or grandmothers say so, it just isn’t true.
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Starving colds and feeding fevers is dumb advice. Just eat healthy food no matter how you feel. Listen to Nutrition Diva (come to think of it, she even has an episode about foods that may help you catch fewer colds).
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Drinking extra fluids doesn’t do more than make you have to pee a lot. Just drink enough to avoid dehydration.
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Green mucous doesn’t mean you need antibiotics. Mucous will eventually turn green in most colds.
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Bronchitis is a term describing inflammation in the airways leading to the lungs. Doctors use this term for people with a loose cough. Most bronchitis is viral, and does not require antibiotics.
About the Author
Dr. Sanaz Majd is a board-certified Family Medicine physician who graduated from Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia. Her special interests are women’s health and patient education.
