Will Vitamin C really ward off that cold? Cold and flu myths busted
There are several myths to dispel when it comes to the common cold.
Also, with flu season almost upon us, look at some of the most common questions about it.
Common cold myths
A common cold is a mild upper respiratory illness that resolves in a short period of time.
The CDC states symptoms of a cold usually peak within two to three days. They can include:
- Sneezing
- Nasal congestion
- Sore throat
- Cough
- Fever
There is no cure for a cold. It will get better on its own without antibiotics. Antibiotics won’t help you get better if you have a cold.
When viruses that cause colds first infect the nose and sinuses, the nose makes clear mucus. This helps wash the viruses from the nose and sinuses. After two or three days, mucus may change to a white, yellow or green color. The CDC says this is normal and an antibiotic is not necessary.
Some symptoms can last for up to 10 to 14 days.
Colds can have similar symptoms to the flu. It can be difficult – or even impossible – to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone.
When antibiotics aren’t needed, the CDC says they won’t help you and their side effects could still cause harm. Side effects can range from mild reactions, like a rash, to more serious health problems.
Dr. Camen Dargel, who practices family medicine for the Mayo Clinic Health System in Onalaska, Wisconsin, dispelled a few rumors of the common cold.
Myths include Vitamin C will help stave off illness. Dargel said while there has been extensive research, none of it says high doses of Vitamin C prevents or treats a cold.
Dargel said hydration is more important than eating when you have a cold. Her advice is to drink water or other fluid to stay hydrated, and rest and relax.
Also, Dargel said there is a myth that people should avoid dairy products to avoid producing more mucus. She said eating dairy products will not cause more mucus.
Flu signs and symptoms
People who are sick with flu often feel some or all of these symptoms:
- Fever/feeling feverish or chills
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Muscle or body aches
- Headaches
- Fatigue (tiredness)
- Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults.
Not everyone with flu will have a fever.
You can spread the flu to someone else before you know you are sick as well as while you are sick.
When is flu season?
The CDC says flu viruses typically circulate in the fall and winter during what’s known as the flu season.
The exact timing and duration of flu seasons varies. However, flu activity often begins to increase in October. Most of the time, flu activity peaks between December and February, although significant activity can last as late as May.
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the timing and duration of flu activity has been less predictable.
What is a flu vaccine?
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states influenza (flu) vaccines (often called “flu shots”) are vaccines that protect against the four influenza viruses that research indicates will be most common during the upcoming season. Most flu vaccines are “flu shots” given with a needle, usually in the arm, but there also is a nasal spray flu vaccine.
Is there more than one type of flu shot available?
Yes, the CDC states there are different flu vaccine manufacturers and multiple flu vaccines that are licensed and recommended for use in the United States: Fluzone High-Dose Quadrivalent vaccine, Flublok Quadrivalent recombinant flu vaccine and Fluad Quadrivalent adjuvanted flu vaccine.
If you have questions about which vaccine is best for you, talk to your doctor or other health care professional.
When are shots available?
Shots are typically available starting in mid-August.
Who should not get a flu vaccine?
Some vaccines are not recommended for certain groups of people. Factors that can determine a person’s suitability for vaccination, or vaccination with a particular vaccine, include a person’s age, health (current and past) and any allergies to flu vaccine or its components.
The CDC has an entire page about who should and shouldn’t get a flu vaccine.
How well do flu vaccines work?
Flu vaccines effectiveness can vary.
The protection provided by a flu vaccine varies from season to season and depends in part on the age and health status of the person getting the vaccine and the similarity or “match” between the viruses in the vaccine and those in circulation.
However, the CDC cites multiple studies that show:
- Flu vaccination can help you from getting sick with the flu
- Flu vaccination has been shown to reduce severity of illness in people who get vaccinated but still get sick
- Flu vaccination can reduce the risk of flu-associated hospitalization
- Flu vaccination is an important preventative tool for people with certain chronic health conditions
- Flu vaccination during pregnancy helps protect pregnant people from flu during and after pregnancy. It also helps protect infants from flu in the their first few months of life.
- Flu vaccine can be lifesaving for children
- Getting vaccinated yourself may also protect people around you
What are side effects of getting a flu vaccine?
Common side effects from a flu shot include soreness, redness, and/or swelling where the shot was given, headache (low grade), fever, nausea, muscle aches and fatigue.
The flu shot, like other injections, can occasionally cause fainting.
Flu vaccine side effects are generally mild and go away on their own within a few days.
Can someone get vaccines for the flu, COVID-19 and RSV all at once?
CDC guidance states that influenza, COVID-19 and RSV vaccines can all be given at the same time to eligible people. The Health Alert Network (HAN) published a report on Sept. 5, 2023, for additional information about simultaneous administration of these vaccines.
