How Not to Fight Colds

[HuckleB]

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/05/opinion/05ackerman.html

"...

Most of us come down with at least a couple of colds a year; children get up to a dozen. But we all know people who seem never to catch one. What’s their secret? Do they have extraordinarily robust immune systems, and the rest of us, pathetically weak ones? You might think this was key, given the number of nutritional supplements, cold remedies and fortified cereals on the market that purport to augment the immune system — often with the help of vitamins, zinc or ginseng — and by so doing stave off colds.

But science and experience don’t back this up. On the contrary, if you’re keen on tamping down your own cold, “boosting” your immunity may be the last thing you want to do.

...

But, as medical science has realized over the past few decades, the most prevalent cold viruses in fact do little direct harm to our cells. In one experiment in 1984, researchers at the University of Copenhagen performed biopsies on nasal tissue taken from people suffering severe colds, then did the same after the subjects had recovered. To the scientists’ surprise, none of the samples showed any sign of damage to the nasal tissue. Further vindicating the viruses themselves was another study around the same time showing that rhinoviruses infect only a small number of cells lining the nasal passages.

Here was a new insight in cold science: the symptoms are caused not by the virus but by its host — by the body’s inflammatory response. Chemical agents manufactured by our immune system inflame our cells and tissues, causing our nose to run and our throat to swell. The enemy is us.

..."

----------------------


I hesitated to post this, but I figured it's worth a discussion. The author is a science writer, with a book on this very topic that has either just come out, or is about to come out. It does appear that she has a fair reputation, and that she has consulted fair scientists and health care professionals in her research. Still, the piece doesn't allow for a look at the research itself, so I'm not jumping to any conclusions. I plan to look into this further, but, I'll leave this bite for your perusal, as well as for your indignation, agreement and/or yawns.

:hi:

[hedgehog]

1. I'm on a medication for my asthma/allergies that damps down

my immune response. I still get the occasional cold, but while I may get a sore throat and some achiness, i never get the stuffy nose.

[phantom power]

2. My impression is that inflamation processes are turning out to be implicated...

in huge numbers of health problems. I don't know if they are the One Ring To Rule Them All, but they seem to be on the short list of lever points to hit for improved health overall.

[HuckleB]

3. There is not "One Ring."

That's always a dangerous place to go, IMO.

[tridim]

26. Which is why I believe Cannabis is so effective as a general health tonic.

The mild euphoria side-effect is nice too.

[wtmusic]

4. These pseudo-science anti-popular-wisdom pieces drive me nuts.

It's not clear whether zinc boosts the immune system or just alleviates symptoms. But contrary to what the author claims, it works:

"Within the last couple decades, however, numerous studies around the world have documented the ability of solution zinc ions (Zn2+) in lozenge form to drastically reduce both the duration and severity of all cold symptoms."

http://www.wesleyan.edu/synthesis/GROUP4/FINALVERSIONS/ZINC2.html

She also claims that boosting my immunity "may be the last thing I want to do". Why? Because if I just grin and bear it, I'll develop antibodies to that strain. That means I only have to get 200 colds and I'll be immune to every known strain (of course, then I have to start working on the strains which have developed in the meantime).

It's wonderful that colds do no "direct harm to our cells", not so wonderful that I feel like shit for three days. And what do I care if "the symptoms are caused not by the virus but by its host" - I just want them to go away.

Best of all:

"So getting a cold may be a positive sign that your biochemical defenses are working normally — a glass-half-full view of getting the sniffles." And not getting a cold is a sign of...what? My biochemical defenses are on the fritz? :crazy:

[HuckleB]

6. Hmmmmm.

You're going to call this article pseudo-science, which is fine by me, generally, but then push zinc? That seems odd.

The rise and fall of zinc as a cure for the common cold.
http://scienceblogs.com/erv/2009/06/the_rise_and_fall_of_zinc_as_a.php

Zinc: Good for Colds?
http://scienceblogs.com/mikethemadbiologist/2007/08/zinc_good_for_colds.php

and...

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?db=pubmed&cmd=search&term=caruso%20AND%20prober

Can zinc lozenges cure the common cold?
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1258/can-zinc-lozenges-cure-the-common-cold

New Zicam study shows possible mechanism for anosmia
http://scienceblogs.com/whitecoatunderground/2009/12/new_zicam_study_shows_possible.php


---------------

This piece actually supports the article, as well.

Boost Your Immune System?
http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=1828

[wtmusic]

7. Did you read the links you provided?

The first link states, "At this point, the only fair thing to say about Zicam is that its benefits are still not proved." From that the author feels confident enough to announce "The rise and fall of zinc as a cure for the common cold" (zinc has never been marketed as a "cure").

Second link:
"RESULTS: Four studies met all 11 criteria. Three of these studies reported no therapeutic effect from zinc lozenge or nasal spray. One study reported positive results from zinc nasal gel. Of the remaining 10 studies, 6 reported a positive effect and 4 reported no effect. Intent-to-treat analysis was the most common criterion not met."

I'll take 7:4 odds on a cheap, over-the-counter remedy anyday.

Third link:
"Reliability and validity of three Chinese-version tasks of Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test." I have no idea how this relates to colds.

Fourth link:
No references, no links, impossible to verify.

Fifth link:
Refers only to zinc gel that people shove up their nose.

Sixth link:
I've never seen zinc sold with the claim that it "boosts your immune system", and that's not the point anyway. If zinc gluconate lozenges reduce symptoms, that's good enough for me.

[HuckleB]

8. Now that's some serious selective data, you're pushing there.

Those who have looked at the science see no benefit, period. Really, don't attack things as being pseudoscience, if you're going to use pseudoscience arguments.

[Warpy]

5. That's what I learned in nursing school decades ago

The problem isn't the virus, itself, but the body's overwhelming response to it, that the best strategies were fluid replacement and lots of tissues, although antihistamines could be used at night more as sedatives than anything else, allowing a few hours of fitful sleep before hacking, sneezing, and clogged sinuses woke us up.

A cold will last only a week if you use all the anticold medicines you can take. Otherwise, the bastard will hang on for seven days.

[tabatha]

9. I never get the flu anymore

and I would say it is because I am healthier. I have never had a flu shot.

I have on occasion had a tickle in the throat, but the next day it is gone.

I would prefer to have an efficient immune system that appears to counter viruses before they get a good hold on one's system.

At one time, when I was very run-down, I used to get a cold (flu, strep-throat, etc) every month at that time of the month when there is even more of a strain on the system.

Hence, from my own experience, I would say that although one's immune system may be going full bore against a virus, it may also be that one's immune system was not strong enough to defeat the virus before getting a full blown bout of flu.

Hence, I take the article with a grain of salt because it makes a few unsupported claims that do not jibe with my experience - but on the other hand, I have made my own assumptions as well.

[HuckleB]

10. The article is not discussing flu viruses.

:shrug:

[tabatha]

11. Well, whatever it is

I don't get colds, flu, sore throat, sneezes, coughs, any of that crap, anymore.

(I once took my young child with a cold to see a doctor. The doctor said it was not a virus but a bacteria, and I should not have brought the child in. How was I supposed to tell the difference? That is why one has doctors - to diagnose an illness.)

On edit:

Then what exactly was this sentence discussing?
"the most prevalent cold viruses in fact do little direct harm to our cells."

[HuckleB]

12. Uh, ok. Whatever.

Next time, please read the article before sharing anecdotes.

Thanks.

[tabatha]

14. Did you miss the part where I excerpted a sentence

that indicated that they were discussing viruses?????

Did you not see that in the article? did you read the article?

[HuckleB]

16. Cold viruses.

:boring:

PS...

Boost Your Immune System?
http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=1828

[Duer 157099]

13. I believe there is a fundamental flaw in the logic the author is using

A well-functioning immune system is NOT the same as saying one has a "pro-inflammatory" immune system.

I agree with the poster upthread who said that inflammation is becoming increasingly implicated in many, many disease processes.

Often, inflammation is a symptom of a malfunctioning immune system, and "boosting" the immune system may actually result in DECREASED inflammatory response.

So I think the author is WAY off base by saying that it may be counter-productive to boost one's immune system. Unless he has proof from a clinical study that shows exactly that.

[tabatha]

15. +1000

I agree with you completely. That is what I have read, and what I have experienced.

[HuckleB]

17. As I stated earlier, I would like to see the research the book uses.

I would hope there is a strong resource section.

On the other hand, I know Mark Crislip's writing is backed by research and knowledge.

Boost Your Immune System?
http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=1828

I'm not sure what basis you have for your claim, but I'm not buying it blindly.

[Duer 157099]

18. Heh. That article at your link agrees with what I wrote. n/t

[HuckleB]

19. Hmmm.

Show me what in the article supports this claim of yours: "...and "boosting" the immune system may actually result in DECREASED inflammatory response."

[Duer 157099]

20. Note the use of the quotation marks around "boosting"

and infer as you will.

[HuckleB]

21. "Infer as you will..." is the great support you claim?

:rofl:

[Duer 157099]

23. Ugh.

I don't know why I ever do this.

[HuckleB]

24. I don't know why you do either.

If you're going to make claims that you can't support, why make them?

[Duer 157099]

27. OK I'll spell it out for you

"Boosting" can mean completely opposite things, depending on who is using it and how.

When I used it, I actually meant something like "making it function correctly" which clearly was not what you interpreted.

[HuckleB]

29. In other words, the piece I posted does not support your claim at all.

Yet you chose to claim that it did.

Sheesh.

[Duer 157099]

31. It does in the sense that both of us think that *inflammation* is the problem

I often don't spell out all of the steps in my thinking, so I shouldn't be surprised when people don't make the same logical jumps that I do. Mea culpa.

[HuckleB]

32. No, it doesn't, which is why you can't show that it does.

Bye.

[Crunchy Frog]

22. I use Sambucus for myself and my sons.

It's a syrup made from elderberries and it apparantly has anti-viral properties. It seems to work too.

And you can scoff all you want and maybe it is all in my head, but I'll take it over the weeks of misery and uncontrollable coughing that I was getting before I started using it.

[BuddhaGirl]

33. I use Sambucus too!

works great for hubby and me. :hi:

[GoneOffShore]

37. Oops thought you said Sambucca.

Though that works for me as well.

[femrap]

25. I'm a firm believer in the

Salt Water Theory. If I feel a sore throat coming on, I gargle with it 2 or 3 times/day. If I feel a head cold coming on, I snort the salt water....I know it sounds gross, but it really helps...the cold stops or its effects aren't so bad.

Try it, you'll like it.

[Blue Owl]

28. NeilMed's sinus rinse has been helping me

A sodium solution you squirt through your nostrils (or use a neti-pot) has really been helpful. It's also gross, but it feels good and works wonders!

[femrap]

34. Good health to you! nt

[Dorian Gray]

36. I use the Ayr pump

during colds and during allergy season (for me... spring). It definitely helps. (It's pretty much the same thing as the Neil Med, which I used to have until I lost it on a trip!)

[HuckleB]

30. Neti pots rock!

[femrap]

35. Good health to all....nt