To many of us the winter season is a time of joyful celebration. And with a number of holidays to look forward to during the months of December and January, this is exactly how it should be. Unfortunately, winter also seems to be the worst time of year for illness. Since they don’t want to miss out on the fun festivities with friends and family members, many people will go out of their way to avoid getting sick. But what we often consider cold and flu prevention is nothing more than an old wives’ tale or common misconception. Allergy Respiratory & Sleep Medicine is often asked about these well-known tips and whether or not there is any truth to them. Well, this local medical center in Canton, Ohio wants to help set the record straight by explaining some of the most common cold myths and facts to North Canton, Ohio and Massillon, Ohio residents. These respiratory specialists have heard of every trick in the book and want to clear things up to those of you that may be approaching seasonal illness prevention in the wrong way.

The first cold and flu prevention tactic that Allergy Respiratory & Sleep Medicine wants to address is the use of vitamin C. Many people believe that if they take large doses of vitamin C throughout the winter season, they can supercharge their immune systems and kick the cold or flu virus they happened to have come across. Sure, vitamin C has many health benefits, but the fact is that it doesn’t do much in the way of curing or preventing illness. Countless studies have been performed in order to determine vitamin C’s effectiveness as a virus cure, and the results show that it does little to reduce the length or severity of a cold.

Antibacterial wipes and hand sanitizers are also commonly used to avoid picking up cold and flu germs. While this seems like a solid plan in theory, virus bacteria have a very short lifespan and actually travel through the air. When a sick person exhales, tiny water droplets containing the active virus can infect another person when they land in the eyes, nose or mouth. This virus can’t live outside of the body for more than 2-3 minutes. As soon as the protective water coating evaporates, the virus dies. So, all that you’re really doing is making sure your hands and other surfaces are squeaky clean—not preventing infection.

This local medical center in Canton explains tons of cold myths and facts to their patients every day, yet there are still some “tried and true methods” that people continue to use. Chicken soup to treat a cold? Ingesting fluids is a good idea, but don’t expect your symptoms to simply disappear once you eat a piping hot bowl of Grandma’s famous dish.

Feed a cold, starve a fever? The respiratory specialists at Allergy Respiratory & Sleep Medicine aren’t sure where this myth first came from.

Wearing a hat, coat and mittens outside can provide cold and flu prevention? Obviously you should wear protective covering when you venture out of your Massillon or North Canton home this winter, but it won’t have any affect in regards to infection. This old wives’ tale probably arose from the fact that cold air can trigger asthma and cough, leading concerned moms to believe that children automatically get sick if they don’t bundle up.

So if none of these methods work, what will? Well, Allergy Respiratory & Sleep Medicine suggests masks that cover the nose and mouth. While it’s not the most fashionable accessory, this protective gear can prevent the spread of respiratory viruses and keep you from catching a cold.

It’s easy to get caught up in these cold myths and facts, especially during the winter season, so if you have any questions about cold and flu prevention, make sure to consult the professionals at Allergy Respiratory & Sleep Medicine. Visit their website at www.allergyrespiratorycenter.com to learn more about this local medical center near the North Canton, Ohio and Massillon, Ohio areas. If you’ve already caught a bug or you’re struggling with some other condition, don’t be afraid to give them a call at 330.479.3333 to make an appointment with a respiratory specialist today.

Allergy Respiratory & Sleep Medicine
330.479.3333
4048 Dressler Rd NW
Canton, Ohio