A - a - a - tishoo!

It's come as no surprise to me that I've received many emails about stuffy noses, sneezing, sinusitis, and hacking coughs that are irritating to the individual and to those around them. After all, we are in the middle of the cold season, the common cold season that is.

In medicine we are sometimes dismissive of coughs and colds. Why else would someone write to me saying, 'I don't want to bother my regular doctor when it's just a virus but it is rather annoying!' The body invariably does a good job of sending the infection packing without any external assistance and since the common cold, and indeed the flu, are caused by viruses antibiotics are unhelpful, which may explain why another emailer wrote, 'After taking three courses of antibiotics to cure my sinusitis it still remains', as sinusitis is usually also a consequence of viral infection, most often the common cold.

So when faced with a sneezing patient with a streaming nose who in essence is looking for a miracle cure the response from most doctors will be along the lines of 'Time really is the healer, and in the meantime rest, liquid and over-the-counter cough and cold remedies to soothe the sore throat, relieve stuffiness and ease the cough, is all that's needed'.

The problem is many people just don't have time to wait. We are a society that demands instant results, we want a quick-fix. Moreover, in the current financial climate people are understandably reluctant to take time off - even though they fully appreciate that doing this would kick start a more speedy recovery - because they fear they won't have a job to go back to.

The irony here is that by struggling through they are more likely to pick up another infection soon after the current one and so start the cycle of repeated infections, often perceived as one emailer said, 'I have had a 'lingering' cold for about a month now, it seems to just start getting better when it comes back. It tends to be a bunged-up nose, headache and a bit of a sore throat'. Rather than it being a lingering cold, this is more likely to be re-infection with another virus, and there are plenty of common cold viruses – over 200 – which is why we are unlikely to ever find a cure for the "common cold".

What's happening is just as someone is getting over one cold, their immune system may be a little run-down and vulnerable, and so in pops another virus to start things all over again. So the 'just can't seem to shift it' cold is most likely recurrent infections.

Let's not underestimate the effect of the common cold. Its symptoms may not be life-threatening but they can be pretty miserable and annoying, as one emailer pointed out earlier. Even though the initial symptoms may be gone within a week the cough can last for an extra week or more. In fact, one person commented, 'I've had to move into the spare room, 'until you get that cough sorted out'! And if you've ever been in a restaurant, or at a movie, and someone has a dry hacking cough I bet you've wanted to wrap something around their neck – which in olden times might have been OK because wrapping a filthy sock around the neck was a way people tried to treat the common cold, presumably because the odour would distract them from the symptoms or would scare the infection away.

All is not lost. It is possible to speed up the process of recovery. At the first sign of a cold additional vitamin C and zinc, and the herb Echinacea may help to lessen the severity of the symptoms and shorten the duration of the infection. Pelargonium may also help in the same way. In addition to the standard '3 Musketeers' - rest, liquid and over-the-counter remedies - there are some fantastic home remedies, which have moved on a little since the days of curious cures such as sticking orange peel up the nose to stem running and provide vitamin C, and soaking a thick slice of toast in vinegar and binding this to the throat.

One of my favourite home remedies is a drink made up with honey, lemon and ginger in warm water, a wonderful way to ease a sore throat and to relieve stuffiness if you inhale the steam whilst the drink is cooling ready for drinking. My Dad always used to make something like this for me when I was a child and still suggests it when he listens to me on the radio and can tell from the tone of my voice that 'you've a bit of a sore throat son'. Steam inhalation with added menthol or eucalyptus is very good for clearing the stuffy nose of a cold or sinusitis - just don't get so close that you burn your nostrils. Using a sea-water nasal spray to cleanse the nostrils can help too.

So for the best chance of keeping free of these infections, and since most adults suffer between two and five cold infections per year to try and be at the lower end of this scale, the immune system needs to be fighting fit. This means plenty of rest and relaxation, not smoking, eating a diet rich in vitamin C, considering a daily probiotic, keeping active and on top of stress. Put these in place and there's the best chance of keeping free of problems. Oh, and keep your distance from those who are coughing and sneezing, and wash your hands often.

If you have any niggling health questions and would like to get in touch, then please drop me an email at DrRobHicks@aol.com
I won't be able to respond to all emails personally so please read the terms and conditions before you submit.