Skeptics Stack Exchange
Skeptics Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [common-cold]

Common term for an upper-respiratory viral infection caused by any number of viral agents. Cold is commonly identified by the symptoms, which are characterized by cough, sneezing, sore throat, congestion, fever and other symtoms

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Does being cold increase your chances of catching the common cold?

"Everyone knows" - a scary statement - that you get "a cold" from being cold. Now it seems to be a fact that you don't, because you get a cold from a (rhino)virus, not from the temperature. But is there any correlation between temperature and…
Nanne
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Do dairy products cause phlegm to build or thicken?

It is a common advice, perpetuated by many parents, and even some doctors, that if you have a cold, you should avoid dairy products, because they cause phlegm to build up or thicken. See e.g. Foods that cause mucus buildup. Do they (and if they do,…
Suma
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Does wearing a scarf help a sore throat?

Today, my wife has shocked me by telling me that a scarf does not and cannot help a sore throat. I could swear that it works wonders for me! Pretty much the entire knowledgable Internet seems to agree with my wife (a scarf does not help), but at the…
Andrey Tarantsov
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Does homeopathic zinc (Zicam) help with the common cold?

I'm sick, and my friend had me buy store brand Zicam to help with it. Looking at the bottle after taking it, I thought the ingredients were written strangely. "Zincum Aceticum 2x", it says, when I would expect something more chemical sounding,…
endolith
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Can your toothbrush reinfect you if you have a cold?

I was in a supermarket yesterday and saw the following on a toothbrush: I found the advice repeated on the Colgate website: It is also very important to change toothbrushes after you've had a cold, since the bristles can collect germs that can…
Tom77
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Does honey cure or alleviate the symptoms of a common cold?

A friend of mine insists that downing honey by the heaping tablespoon at the first sign of a cold will alleviate the symptoms, shorten the duration of the cold, or prevent it entirely - any and all of the above. I have found a few sites online (that…
hairboat
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Does echinacea reduce the length and severity of symptoms for the common cold?

Echinacea bottles at my local food supplement store claim that taking the pills will reduce the length and severity of symptoms experienced when infected with the common cold. Do these claims have any basis? Is there any peer-reviewed research…
blueberryfields
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Does ginger help against the common cold?

My wife is treating all cold symptons in the family with a few spoons of freshly ground ginger juice mixed with honey. While I don't mind an occasional placebo, drinking ginger juice is unpleasant because of the burning sensation while swallowing,…
Twinkles
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Do we catch a cold when we get wet in rain?

Do we get sick when we get wet in rain while nothing happens when we stand in the shower?
Hari Nandha
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"Feed a cold, starve a fever"?

Is there any truth behind this phrase? I was always skeptical and figured that the body needed energy from food to fight whatever illness it may have. I have even heard people say it in reverse: "Feed a fever, starve a cold"! So which is it? Feed a…
MSpeed
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Have throat lozenges been shown to be ineffective?

I am currently suffering a sore throat. I have purchased some Betadine (gargleable iodine) which I believe and hope actually helps reduce the extent of the infection. At the risk of derision, I will confess I have also purchased Strepsils…
Oddthinking
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Does sweating help to cure the flu

Many people advise you to put some warm clothes on, get under the blankets and sweat a lot to help cure flu/fever. On one hand there is a lot of opinion on the Internet saying that it does not work, on the other I heard this advice from medical…
bjedrzejewski
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Do disposable face masks prevent or significantly reduce the spread of disease?

Our local Pediatrician's office and General Practitioner's office both have a policy of giving a disposable face mask to each patient or visitor who has a noticeable cough or runny nose, and insist that it be worn before proceeding with…
Boris Nikolaevich
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Is time of the year a factor on the risk of catching a common cold?

Most people have heard the phrase "summer cold." Is there any truth to the concept that people are more prone to the common cold during summer months? More generally, is there any particular (preferably specific) time of year that people are more…
Ian Pugsley
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Does inhaling steam from fresh-boiled potatoes help with a cold/flu cough or congestion?

Growing up in Russia, almost everyone I knew used this remedy. Here's Internet example. Fortunately, half an hour is just enough time for you to boil a big pot of potatoes. Remove them from the heat, throw a towel over your head, and breathe the…
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