Common cold?

[Loosehead]

As I sit here coughing and sneezing etc I was wondering about the cycle of the common cold. Now I think I read somewhere in the dim and distant that when you are coughing and snivveling etc that the cold is almost over and that it's at it's least contagious, ie the body defences are winning. But I also thought that all the coughing and sneezing is the way the virus get's spread. So is there an expert out there who can give us an explanation of what actually happens in a typical common cold? Thanks

[purplecarrot]

I don't have a professional answer but I can tell you that is a complete crock. My cold started Tuesday evening, I felt perfectly fine before that and I still have the cough's and sneezes and everything else that goes with it this evening. One thing I have noticed and maybe its just me, but my dry & scratchy sore throat has gone (even if I still have everything else) and usually when that happens it is only a day or two to go before I am back to normal. Hope this helps

[gary baldy]

I'm no expert but you are right Loosey.
The symptoms that we associate with a cold show the body has already succumbed to the virus and is trying to purge the system.
The virus is now at its weakest as the bodies defences are working away at it. You probably caught the cold off someone who was showing either very early symptons or none at all.
Sadly it takes a second to catch a cold but ages to get rid of it.
The key to fighting a cold is to catch it early. I personally am 'lucky' in that i can spot one early because i almost always get a sore throat first so can start to work on fighting it before it gets a good hold.
With colds its a vicous circle because if you to sucumb to it your body is working overtime to fight it and is left open to secondary infections just prolonging the misery.
I always say - dont be a martyr to a cold. Just go to bed and rest and let your body fight it. One day in bed resting saves two or three down the line in my experience.
Hope you get better soon Stuffyhead!

[h_taylor69]

I got a cold that I thought was flu Christmas night cos I was in agony with aches all over my body, a terrible sore throat and shivers, fever and chills.
I'm fine today and was last night - the cure? Works every time for me - I topped and tailed 3 cloves of garlic, sliced them in half and swallowed each bit with water Boxing day morning and by the end of the day - right as rain.
Garlic is anti viral, anti bacterial and antiseptic - works a treat. I've used it before for an abcess on my gum and other viruses. Always clears it in 24 hours for me.
I don't use shop remedies as I believe they only cure the symptoms not the cause and supress the immune system in doing so - only my view though!!

[Loosehead]

Thanks all, my cold has pretty much cleared up now. Useful info Gary and the garlic Idea sounds good too.