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Health & Fitness

SUMMERTIME SNIFFLES

It is summer.  That means it is time to take a vacation, get outside and have some fun.  You have a lot to do, so there are few things more annoying than catching a miserable summertime cold.  What happened?  Isn’t cold and flu season in the fall and winter?  Colds may not be as common during the summer, but they can hit you any time of year.

Why do summer colds seem worse?

Cold symptoms can be caused by more than 200 different viruses, not the weather.  The colds that you catch during the fall and winter are usually triggered by rhinoviruses.  These are the most common viral infections in humans. 

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Summer cold symptoms can last longer and be more complicated because they are usually caused by an enterovirus.  These cold symptoms include the usual cough, low fever, congestion and headache.  But they may also include sore throats, rashes and diarrhea. To make matters worse, an enterovirus seems to hang on longer during the summer months.

Enterovirus infections travel in respiratory secretions, like the saliva and mucus of an infected person.  Summer colds also spread when people are exposed to constantly re-circulated air, like in air-conditioned buildings and airplanes filled with vacationing travelers.  This air can dry out the lining of your nostrils and make it easier for a virus to enter your body.  You can also pick up viruses by touching contaminated surfaces like hand rails or a doorknob.

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Prevention

There are ways that you can reduce the risk of a cold ruining your summertime fun:

  • Wash your hands often.
  • Get plenty of sleep to bolster your immune system.
  • Stay well-hydrated.
  • Eat a balanced diet.
  • Spend time outdoors.  The sun’s ultraviolet rays can kill cold viruses.

Treatment

There is no cure for a cold.  Just as in winter, summer colds generally clear up without treatment in a few days or even a week.  See your doctor if you develop a high fever or rash, and remember that antibiotics will not cure a cold virus.  Antibiotics fight bacterial illnesses.   You can relieve cold symptoms by:

  • Resting.
  • Drinking plenty of fluids.
  • Taking acetaminophen for headache or fever.
  • Using a decongestant or saline nasal spray or rinse for nasal symptoms.
  • Gargling with warm salt water or using ice chips, throat sprays or lozenges for a sore throat.
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