Medical myths That helps with colds

Hot beer and Co: What helps against colds?

02/01/2015

Cough, runny nose, throat and body aches: A cold causes us humans quite a job. Often acquaintances are then with good advice on the spot and recommend home remedies such as hot beer or hot milk with honey. But what really helps against the complaints?

Myths about colds in circulation
Especially in the cold season, many people suffer from a cold. When headaches, fever and sore throats determine your daily routine, you long for relief. Friends and acquaintances then quickly have well-intentioned recommendations ready and advise to one or the other home remedy. It can be repeatedly heard that warm beer, hot milk with honey or vitamin C should relieve the symptoms. The „Berlin newspaper“ deals with the topic in a recent article and tries to explain which myths are correct and which are not.

Children get sick up to 13 times a year
At the health insurance AOK it says that annually about half of Germans get sick at least one cold. With two to three illnesses per year, it is the most common infectious disease in adults. Infants may even catch colds up to 13 times a year. Doctors usually refer to the disease as „Acute upper respiratory infection“ and also as „gripal infect“ she is known. The selection of promoted medicines to help against colds is huge and the number of recommended natural remedies is enormous.

Expert advises against warm beer
The common advice to drink cold beer during colds is Humbug, according to the newspaper. Prof. Erika Baum, Vice President of the German Society for General Medicine and Family Medicine, explained that high alcohol consumption weakened the body's defenses and disrupted heat regulation. And also Helga Strube of the German Nutrition Society in Hanover would have a cold „clearly“ advise against warm beer. The alcohol claimed the weakened immune system in addition. The expert advises to drink a lot, but no beer, but herbal tea, ginger tea or hot elder. Some teas, such as sage, are also suitable home remedies for sore throats.

Vitamin C does not protect against colds
The assumption that vitamin C protects against colds, is from the“Berlin newspaper“ invalidated. Thus, in clinical studies only minimal effects on disease risk and disease progression were found. The necessary amount of the important vitamin is taken up by a balanced diet anyway, so that no additional preparations are needed. The newspaper also mentions that a flu shot against colds is useless. It must be between a so-called „a flu-like infection“ and a true flu can be distinguished. On the pages of the Federal Center for Health Education (BZgA) states: „Although the symptoms may be similar, however, the course and severity of the disease differ significantly.“

One week or seven days?
And even antibiotics bring nothing, because they fight bacteria and no viruses that are usually triggered by colds. It is also important to know that while there are many remedies for the symptoms of a cold, the real cause - the inflammation of the mucous membrane - is simple „sit out“: So sleep a lot and spare yourself. Also the old adage: „Colds last for a week without a doctor and seven days with a doctor“, clarifies this. By this is meant that there are no drugs that significantly shorten the disease. But against natural home remedies for cold or home remedies for hoarseness is nothing wrong, so as to endure the complaints better.

Stress puts a strain on the immune system
Because stress on stress hormones such as cortisol impairs the immune system, it can not fight infections as well. In stress phases, the body's defense is weakened. In order to be less susceptible to diseases such as influenza infections, it is important to ensure a suitable stress reduction. The newspaper also clears up with another myth: Colds are not caused by cold, as is often claimed. Rather, the disease is an infection with viruses. However, cold can weaken the immune system and make it more susceptible to the disease. Therefore, you should wear warm clothes in winter to reduce the risk.

Raise nose instead of blowing
In some cultures, it is common to pull up your nose instead of snorting. According to the report, this is also correct, since wheezing produces a high pressure in the pharynx, through which pathogens can also enter the sinuses. And then there is an inflammatory reaction that further prolongs the disease. The often-heard advice, in Halskratzen, hot milk with honey to drink, is also correct. In principle, honey is of major importance in naturopathy for colds. But other warm drinks like teas can help. Sage, whether as a tea or candy, soothes the throat scratching and acts as an anti-inflammatory.

Do not sneeze into the hands
If you have a cold, you should not go to the sauna because the high temperatures are stressful for the body. But even if sauna sessions do not help against the disease, it can strengthen the immune system and is thus better immune to infection. The last myth that the „Berlin newspaper“ is not sneezing. This is a good piece of advice, as the pathogens that are on hand are quickly transferred to others. Handkerchief or elbow bows are the better alternative. The same applies to coughs. It is also advised to use handkerchiefs only once and then immediately dispose of them in the trash can. Since viruses spread over the hands of the mucous membranes of the eyes, mouth and nose continue to spread from there in the body, washing hands counts as the most important protective measure against a cold, my experts. (Ad)

Picture: Sigrid Rossmann