Posts Tagged ‘virus’

“Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About The Common Cold
Plus A Few Things You Didn’t!”

Have you ever had an experience that goes something like this?

You have just awakened to a great new day. But before you can even muster the fortitude to crawl out of your cave of blankets, a relay of sneezes somehow escapes from your mouth with the force of a Florida hurricane. Ah… ah… ah… choooooooo!

You notice a slight shiver go through your body. Then, when you attempt that first big breath you are suddenly incapable. Why? Because your sinuses are packed tighter than cotton in a pill jar!!

Dragging your body to the bathroom, you take a quick glance in the mirror and notice the pair of eyes staring back. They give you the appearance of someone who has stayed up too late drinking rubbing alcohol and watching Ronco infomercials.

Oh, and could that really be your head on those shoulders, and when did it start feeling like the Goodyear blimp?

My dear, it’s time for Cold Care 101!!

Did you know that the cold and its ‘cousin’ flu are the most common infectious diseases in the entire world? It is also the leading cause of absence from both work and school, and the #1 reason for doctor visits.

If you were to ask what causes a cold, most people would probably guess (incorrectly) that colds and flu are caused by bacteria, cold weather, being improperly dressed or walking around with wet hair or clothing.

The real story is that colds and flu are caused by viruses (microscopic clusters of genetic material surrounded by a protein covering). There are four recognized distinct categories of cold viruses: rhinovirus, which is the most common, adenovirus, parainfluenza virus and coronavirus (and, no that does not come from beer!).

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