Neeraj Singh

Protect Yourself From a Virus—Here's How!

Hi, my name is Neeraj Singh and here I am telling you that how you can protect Yourself
From viral infection. Having a cold is a miserable experience—no doubt about that.
Snuffling, sneezing, coughing, and feeling exhausted—we've all been there. Colds,
however, are not just unpleasant—they present a very real public health problem. Here's
how to stop a virus before it starts, with everything you need to know about them, too.
WHAT CAUSES A COLD?A cold is an infection of
your upper airways, caused by a virus. Around
50% are caused by the human rhinovirus (HRV).
HRV belongs to the Picornaviridae family. It is
an RNA virus whose genetic makeup has been
extensively studied. The remaining colds are
caused by other viruses such as the respiratory
syncytial virus (RSV), parainfluenza and the
corona virus
IS THERE A CURE FOR A COLD Yet? Nope. These viruses were first identified in the 1950s,
but despite 60 years of research, sadly there is still
no cure! In that time we sent a bunch of people to
the moon, and designed an Instant Pot and figured
out a way to have it delivered to our home in a day.
The coating of the viral cell wall—the capsid—
contains several specific capsid proteins. These have
a high propensity for genetic mutation—which is
why new infections are common, and producing a
vaccine has so far not been possible.

HOW DO VIRUSES WORK? Once the HRV

virus lands on the cell surface, such as the
skin lining the inside of your nose, it attaches
to the host cell, gains entry, and reproduces
inside the cell to produce more viral
particles. The host cell then ruptures to allow
the new viral particles to escape and these
are then ready to attack further host cells.
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HOW DO I CATCH A COLD? Catching a cold has nothing to

do with feeling cold! You catch the virus by either
breathing it in, by skin to skin contact or by touching an
object harboring viral particles on its surface. The virus
can live outside the body for several days in the correct
environmental conditions and up to two hours on a skin
surface. It usually enters the body through the nasal
passages—not through the mouth.

HOW
LIKELY AM I TO CATCH A COLD? Viral
transmission takes place very easily. In
one experiment, 18 subjects—artificially
infected with HRV—played card games
for 12 hours with their non-infected
opponents. By the end of the study
period, 56% of the 18 opponents were
now infected. In another study, subjects
were artificially infected with HRV. The
virus was then detected on 40% of their
hands and 6% of articles found in the home. Mind that playing cards for 12 hours straight
may cause worse problems than catching HRV. We recommend spending that time cooking
stew in an Instant Pot.
WHAT ARE THE COMMON SYMPTOMS OF A
COMMON Cold? The incubation period for the HRV
virus is just under 2 days. Symptoms are at their
worst days 1-3, often last 7-10 days, and can last 3
weeks. The most common symptoms are a sore
throat, runny nose, runny eyes and feeling lethargic
and unwell. Children often have a fever, but this is
not so common in adults. Children aged under 2
have 4-6 colds per year, whereas adults have on
average only one per year.
WHAT IS THE WORST CASE SCENARIO HERE? Most colds
are mild but debilitating. They most often infect your
upper airways, however, although sometimes HRV can have more serious consequences, causing
exacerbations of asthma, bronchiolitis and pneumonia. You should always take only a little amount
Neeraj Singh

of sugar in winter season because its metabolism

require a number of Mg ions and maybe you know well
that Mg ions are very essential for our healthy immune
system.

IF IT’S NOT A COLD, WHAT COULD IT BE? Doctors

may find it difficult to be sure of the diagnosis, as
several other conditions can present with similar
symptoms. Allergic rhinitis (hay fever) causes a
runny nose with sneezing, but a sore
throat is unusual. If the throat is very
sore, this raises the possibility of
streptococcal pharyngitis (bacterial).
Facial pain and nasal discharge occur
when the sinuses have become infected.
Similarly, infection of the eardrum
produces severe ear pain, which may
follow on from a cold—with an episode
of otitis media.

POTATO, POTAHTO—HOW TO TELL IF YOU HAVE A COLD

OR THE FLU? One common difficulty is how to distinguish a
common cold from an attack of influenza—"flu" caused by
the influenza virus. Generally, people suffering from flu feel
weaker and look sicker. They usually have other symptoms
such as headache, joint and muscle aches and pains, fever
with chills and sweats. An attack of flu can be very serious
for the elderly or for people who have a lowered immune
system. It's important with a serious systemic illness not to
miss a potentially life-threatening condition such as
meningitis or septicaemia.
Neeraj Singh

HOW DOES MY BODY FIGHT THE VIRUS?

The body has a complex immune system.
Cells called macrophages are circulating
all the time in your bloodstream. These
recognize foreign particles and destroy
them. However, if the virus is multiplying
rapidly, the numbers rapidly overwhelm
the macrophages. Other white blood cells
called B-lymphocytes and T-lymphocytes
are summoned B-lymphocytes attach to
the virus and produce antibodies which
kill the virus. T-lymphocytes kill virus-
infected cells. Small numbers of B and T lymphocytes persist which remember the virus and
are quick to attack the virus next time if you are re-infected.

WHY DOES MY TEMPERATURE RISE, AND I FEEL

PAIN? The symptoms of the disease process
reflect what is happening inside the body. The
presence of the virus leads to an increase in
body temperature. The virus cannot survive
unless conditions are favourable, and so the rise
in temperature is part of the body’s response to
defeat it. The immune system works by signalling
different cells and cell processes using chemical
messengers—called cytokines. The defence
process is called inflammation. The symptoms of
inflammation are warmth, redness, swelling and
pain.
OK, WHAT ABOUT THE NOSE STUFF—WHY
DO I FEEL Gross? When you get a cold, there is
a lot of inflammation in your nasal passages and
upper airways. Blood vessels in your nasal
passageways dilate, and excess mucus is
produced. This is why you sneeze, your nose
runs, your eyes run, and you cough. However, if
you have a mild dose of infection you may not
even know you have been ill. This is called a
subclinical infection.
Neeraj Singh

WHAT MAKES CATCHING A COLD MORE LIKELY?

(SMOKING.)Smokers seem to be more susceptible
to colds. This is because their airways are already
inflamed from the irritant effects of cigarette
smoke. When the HRV then appears on the
scene, this additional threat is too much to cope
with, and the virus can take hold. Whenever you
start to smoke you will start to notice some
changes right away as soon as you use cigarettes.
Your fingers will yellow, your breath and hair and
clothes will smell like smoke, and your teeth will
stain. You may also develop a hacking cough and
suffer many of the symptoms of allergies, such as a runny nose, fever, itchiness and mucous
build-up.
OK, ANYTHING ELSE? (YES, LACK OF SLEEP)Lack of
sleep may increase susceptibility to colds. In a 2015
study reported in the journal Sleep, a group of
volunteers were artificially infected with a cold-
causing virus and then monitored for cold
symptoms over the next few days. Subjects who
slept less than 5 hours per night were 4 and a half
times more likely to catch a cold than those who
slept 7 hours per night.
WHAT ABOUT MY KIDS? Colds are much more

common in babies and small children. Being in

the company of other small children is a risk
factor as this is a breeding ground for
infections. Breastfeeding, if possible, offers a
distinct advantage because there are
antibodies in breast milk. Regular hand-
washing has been shown to help reduce viral
transmission. Wash and dry your child’s hands
regularly throughout the day and before
mealtimes. Germs collect on dummies,
doorknobs, work surfaces, and telephones, for example, so keep all these surfaces clean.
Wash your baby’s toys regularly using a mild detergent. Don’t smoke around your baby.
AND IF I’M ‘D-FICIENT’ IN VITAMIN D? Vitamin D deficiency seems to be associated with an
increased frequency of catching a cold. In fact, vitamin D deficiency is also surprisingly
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common. Around 1 in 5 UK adults and 1 in 5

children are vitamin D deficient. Vitamin D is
made in the body after exposure to sunlight. In
the winter, when days are short, vitamin D
levels may be depleted. In a 2018 study
reported in the British Medical Journal (BMJ),
data from 25 randomized controlled trials
including 11.321 participants, concluded that
taking vitamin D supplements daily, or weekly,
reduced the risk of acute respiratory tract
infections. The results were most pronounced
in people who had the lowest vitamin D levels.
Vitamin D is found in oily fish, red meat, liver, eggs and in fortified cereals. Vitamin D
supplements are recommended in babies and small children. Also in adults who are at risk,
for example, the elderly or people who live in institutions.
ANYTHING ELSE TO WORRY ABOUT?
(YES—LACK OF EXERCISE)Lack of exercise is
linked to an increased risk of catching a
cold. In a 2011 study in the British Journal
of Sports Medicine, people who exercised
five times or more per week had almost a
50% reduction in the frequency of colds.
Fitness keeps your immune system in good
shape. Inactivity does the reverse.

DOES MY WEIGHT MATTER? Being overweight

or obese also increases your susceptibility to
many different types of infections. Obesity is
associated with metabolic syndrome. This is a
complex condition in which your body is
resistant to the hormone insulin. As a result,
blood sugars remain unnaturally high. Your
body is in a state of chronic inflammation. Your
immune system is continually being activated,
and overall, your cellular defence mechanisms
are weakened.
Neeraj Singh

AH, AND BEING STRESSED HURTS YOU, TOO? Stress has

been proven to increase susceptibility to colds. People
with higher exposure to stress have been shown to have
higher levels of glucocorticoid receptor resistance (GCR).
This results in an inability to switch off the process of
inflammation. Moreover, people who are stressed have
higher levels of cytokines, which are directly responsible
for many of the typical cold symptoms. Chronic stress
can make people more susceptible to colds.

GOTCHA, NOW HOW DO I PREVENT A Cold? It’s certainly true that all the parameters which
increase the likelihood of getting a cold should
be reversed. This means: stopping smoking,
getting enough sleep, avoiding vitamin D
deficiency, losing weight and maintaining a
healthy weight, and getting regular exercise.
Despite considerable research, there is little
evidence that most attempts to prevent the
spread of cold-causing viruses are effective.
Medical studies have examined the
effectiveness of control measures such as
screening at entry ports, isolation, quarantine,
social distancing, barriers, personal protection,
and hand hygiene. The only measure which reduces transmission is regular hand washing.
IS THERE A PILL I CAN Take? Not clear. One 2012
randomised controlled study reported that
taking Echinacea (3 x 0.9ml drops), four times a
day for 4 months, reduced the number and
length of a cold, by 26% compared to a placebo.
However, research has not confirmed Echinacea
to be effective in treating a cold when it
presents as an acute illness.
Neeraj Singh

BUMMER, I ALREADY GOT IT. NOW, HOW DO I

TREAT A COLD? Having a cold makes you feel
lousy. However, unfortunately, there is still no
quick fix remedy. A cold is caused by a virus and
so an antibiotic will not be effective. Antibiotics
kill bacteria only. Antiviral medicines do exist but
these are not required for most people most of
the time. Because the virus mutates regularly
many antivirals are also unlikely to shorten the
illness.

HOW DO I TREAT THE Symptoms? When you

have a cold you need to be kind to yourself
and treat your symptoms. Rest – You may not
feel well enough to go to work. Put your feet
up and get plenty of sleep if you can Drink
plenty of fluids – keep well hydrated. Any
fluids are good but avoid alcohol. Take
acetaminophen – the adult dose is 2 x 500 mg
tablets four times in a 24-hour period.

HOW SHOULD I MANAGE MY TEMPERATURE? Take

ibuprofen (assuming you are medically suitable, and
for example, you have not had any
indigestion/gastritis or peptic ulcer from taking
ibuprofen or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory
(NSAID’s) drugs.) The adult dose is 2 x 200mg
tablets, three times a day. This will help reduce your
temperature and relieve pain.
Neeraj Singh

HOW SHOULD I TREAT MY Pain? This will also

relieve pain: You can take acetaminophen and
ibuprofen at the same time. Try steam
inhalations for blocked nose and sinuses. You
do this by pouring boiling water into a bowl,
covering your head with a towel and
breathing the steam in deeply through your
nose. Take care not to scald yourself with the
hot water. Use a Vicks inhaler and/or a vapor
rub on your chest. Menthol soothes irritated
nasal passages. Have hot baths and showers—
again the steam and the heat are soothing. If your throat is sore try gargling with saltwater.
Just mix half a teaspoon of salt in a cup of water, gargle and spit it out. Do this several times
and repeat during the day. Prop yourself up with extra pillows.
I CAN’T SLEEP, WHAT CAN I Do? Consider taking a
decongestant. Most of these contain
antihistamines which may make you feel drowsy.
This is not a bad thing if you are having trouble
sleeping because of your cold. Take care as some
may contain paracetamol and you don’t want to
overdose. Speak to your pharmacist if in doubt.
Decongestants are not advisable for example for
children aged under 6, diabetics and people on
various other medicines.

WHAT SHOULD I Avoid? Don’t smoke.

This will make your symptoms worse.
Don’t take cough medicines. Your cough
is a much-needed reflex to stop mucus
and debris getting into your lungs. Cough
medicines are not likely to be effective.
The best advice is to drink honey and
lemon, Squeeze half a lemon into a cup.
Add 2 teaspoons of honey and top up
with boiling water. Stir well. Repeat as
necessary.
Neeraj Singh

DOES VITAMIN C Help? There is no evidence that

taking vitamin C while you have a cold is
therapeutic. In one study, researchers found daily
vitamin C during an episode, shortened the
duration of the illness in adults by approximately
one day. Foods naturally rich in vitamin C include
citrus fruits, cabbages, greens and potatoes.

MY MOM MADE ME EAT CHICKEN SOUP. WAS SHE Right?

Yep. Mom’s always right. Chicken soup really is good for
colds. A study in the journal Chest looked at the
movement of white blood cells called neutrophils when
combined with soup. The cells exposed to chicken soup
showed significantly less movement, which suggested
anti-inflammatory properties. “Chicken soup contains
certain chemicals that may turn down the level of
inflammation in your nasal passages from a cold,” says Dr.
Amesh A. Adalja, MD, FIDSA, Senior Scholar at Johns
Hopkins Center for Health Security. Beyond that, chicken
soup is packed with nutrients and feels good on a sore throat. Garlic, honey, elderberries,
and probiotics help too.
HOW ABOUT THE FUTURE? WILL IT EVER BE
Cured? Efforts continue to find a cure for the
common cold, but these have so far been
elusive. Researches at Imperial College,
London, have announced some promising
results about a new chemical compound, IMP-
1088, which stops the rhinovirus reproducing. It
inhibits an enzyme called N-
myristoyltransferase, which all rhinoviruses
need to survive. So far this has only been tested
in a laboratory setting and not on humans, but
it looks like it may provide an effective remedy.
Dr. Deborah Lee is a medical writer at Dr Fox Online Pharmacy.