The Common Cold

Acute hasopharyngitis is more commonly known as the common cold.

The Common Cold is not a single virus. It actually refers to a collection of over 200 virus strains, with rhinoviruses being the most common.

The medical term for a runny nose is “Rhinorrhea”.

Alka-Seltzer was introduced by the Dr. Miles Medical Company of Elkhart, Indiana, on December 3, 1931. Its origin was traced to the newsroom of The Elkhart Truth, where reporters mixed aspirin with bicarbonate of soda to ward off winter colds. A Miles chemist added citric acid for taste.

There's very little proof that vitamin C actually has any effect on preventing or treating the common cold, although after reviewing 60 years of clinical research it was found that when taken daily, vitamin C very slightly shortens cold duration, by 8% in adults and 14% in children.

When asked about a good cure for colds Sir Alexander Fleming responded "A good gulp of hot whisky at bedtime-its not very scientific but it helps."

Several years ago, six of 12 men wintering at an isolated Antarctic base sequentially developed symptoms and signs of a common cold after 17 weeks of complete isolation.

The 'neck rule' regarding exercise with a cold states if all your symptoms are above the neck, like congested nose and sore throat, then you're much safer to indulge in mild to moderate physical activity than if the symptoms are below the neck, like fever, chills, body aches or a cough.

It is pretty tough to catch a cold through kissing because the virus develops in your nose and eyes, not your mouth.