Unfortunately, there is no vaccine for the common cold. The main problem in developing a vaccine is that there are at least 160 types of rhinovirus, a lot of which circulate at the same time in the same places, and no vaccine as we have now can provide immunity for more than a few types. Fortunately, there are not nearly as many influenza viruses circulating at any time, which is why it is possible to issue a flu vaccine each year. The trick to that is deciding what strains of influenza are most likely to become widespread, and they produce a vaccine that protects against these strains. Usually, the vaccine protects against the three most likely influenza viruses to circulate during that year's seasonal flu outbreaks. It's a good idea to get the flu shot every year, since the flu is much more dangerous than the common cold. The good news is that scientists think that a vaccine that can provide immunity for a large number of cold viruses with a single shot is possible, and may be on the horizon.
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Dr. Laurence H. Altshuler, MD , Internal Medicine, answered on behalf of Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA)A recent study showed that Chinese herbs can fight colds better than conventional medications such as Tamiflu. I recommend Yin Chao Jin. Talk with a practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Go to www.NCCAOM.org to find one near you.
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Joan Salge Blake, MS, RD , Nutrition & Dietetics, answered on behalf of Academy of Nutrition and DieteticsVitamin C - While studies have shown that vitamin C isn't helpful in preventing colds, research does show that regularly consuming vitamin C may reduce the severity of symptoms and decrease the duration of a cold should you catch it.
Zinc - In a review of 15 controlled trials, zinc lozenges or syrup were shown to help reduce the duration and severity of colds in healthy people when consumed within the first 24 hours of the first sniffle.
Chicken Soup - Maybe your mom was on to something. The heat, salt, and fluid in the soup can help you feel better and fight infection. Also, research suggests that chicken soup may have an anti-inflammatory effect on the upper respiratory tract, which can reduce the duration of the cold.
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UCLA Health answeredFlu vaccines are available in two forms: injection and nasal spray. The injection form, which contains inactivated virus, is approved for children 6 months and older while the nasal spray, containing live but attenuated virus, is an alternative for healthy people between the ages of 2 and 49.
Because the flu vaccine is not approved for children younger than 6 months, the best way to protect these vulnerable infants is to make sure parents, elder siblings and caregivers all receive the vaccine.
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HealthyWomen answeredThe symptoms of the flu come on suddenly and include a fever (usually high), headache, muscle aches, severe deep cough with mucus production, tiredness, weakness and chest discomfort. Sometimes it involves a stuffy nose, sneezing and sore throat. A cold, on the other hand, rarely causes a fever, headache, extreme exhaustion or severe aches and pains. The most prominent cold symptoms are a stuffy nose, runny nose with clear secretions, sneezing, sore throat and a mild to moderate cough.
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RealAge answeredSee All 3 AnswersA healthy immune system may prevent a cold or the flu. Keep your resistance up by using these preventive measures.
- Eat a well-balanced diet.
- Get enough sleep (at least 7 to 8 hours per day).
- Incorporate daily exercise in your routine.
- Wash your hands often, especially if you are around people who have colds or the flu.
- Keep your hands away from your nose, eyes, and mouth.
- Drink plenty of fluids.
- Stop smoking.
- Consider annual flu shots, especially if you are over 65 or have a chronic illness.
- Avoid contact, if possible, with people who are ill.
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See All 6 AnswersIn general it isn’t recommended that one works out while they’re feeling ill. Exercise is controlled stress on the body that it must recover from for the hours or even days following. If your body is devoting its resources to recovering from a cold, don’t exercise and give it yet another thing to recover from. Let your immune system work at full strength to battle the cold and hit the gym once you are well. You’ll probably be back to your old workouts sooner if you get adequate rest anyway.