Can you predict your common cold risk?

How highly you rate your health could predict how likely you are to catch a cold -- and, even more important, how healthy you'll be in later years. Scientists at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh asked 360 healthy adults to rate their health as excellent, very good, good, fair or poor -- and then exposed them to a virus that causes the common cold.

Overall, about one-third developed colds. While none said "poor" and only a few said "fair," those who rated their health as "fair," "good" or even "very good" were more than twice as likely to develop a cold as those who described it as "excellent."

The common cold is a viral infection of your nose and throat (upper respiratory tract). It's usually harmless, although it might not feel that way. Many types of viruses can cause a common cold.

Children younger than six are at greatest risk of colds, but healthy adults can also expect to have two or three colds annually. Most people recover from a common cold in a week or 10 days. Symptoms might last longer in people who smoke. If symptoms don't improve, see your doctor. Although many types of viruses can cause a common cold, rhinoviruses are the most common culprit.  A cold virus enters your body through your mouth, eyes or nose. The virus can spread through droplets in the air when someone who is sick coughs, sneezes or talks. Symptoms of a common cold usually appear one to three days after exposure to a cold-causing virus.

It also spreads by hand-to-hand contact with someone who has a cold or by sharing contaminated objects, such as utensils, towels, toys or telephones. If you touch your eyes, nose or mouth after such contact or exposure, you're likely to catch a cold. The discharge from your nose may become thicker and yellow or green in color as a common cold runs its course. This isn't an indication of a bacterial infection.

What makes people give themselves a high health rating independent of indicators like their medical records or a doctor evaluation? Such factors include following positive lifestyle habits like regular exercise, having a strong social network and feeling a high level of emotional well-being. People who fit the bill are less likely to get sick and more likely to live longer, the researchers found. Conversely, people who think of their health as poor tend to have a poor health trajectory as they age.

On the subject of warding off the common cold, a separate study done at Carnegie Mellon along with researchers at the University of California, San Francisco found that just one extra hour of sleep can make a difference. Sleeping less than six hours a night makes you four times more likely to catch a cold than people who get more than seven hours. Sleep less than five hours and you're four and a half times more likely to be felled by a cold, the researchers reported. The bottom line? Start taking steps to boost your health today … and make the first one getting a better night's sleep.

 HealthDay

 

Can you predict your common cold risk?

How highly you rate your health could predict how likely you are to catch a cold -- and, even more important, how healthy youll be in later years. Scientists at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh asked 360 healthy adults to rate their health as excellent, very good, good, fair or poor -- and then exposed them to a virus that causes the common cold. Overall, about one-third developed colds. While none said poor and only a few said fair, those who rated their health as fair, good or even very good were more than twice as likely to develop a cold as those who described it as excellent. The common cold is a viral infection of your nose and throat (upper respiratory tract). Its usually harmless, although it might not feel that way. Many types of viruses can cause a common cold. Children younger than six are at greatest risk of colds, but healthy adults can also expect to have two or three colds annually. Most people recover from a common cold in a week or 10 days. Symptoms might last longer in people who smoke. If symptoms dont improve, see your doctor. Although many types of viruses can cause a common cold, rhinoviruses are the most common culprit. A cold virus enters your body through your mouth, eyes or nose. The virus can spread through droplets in the air when someone who is sick coughs, sneezes or talks. Symptoms of a common cold usually appear one to three days after exposure to a cold-causing virus. It also spreads by hand-to-hand contact with someone who has a cold or by sharing contaminated objects, such as utensils, towels, toys or telephones. If you touch your eyes, nose or mouth after such contact or exposure, youre likely to catch a cold. The discharge from your nose may become thicker and yellow or green in color as a common cold runs its course. This isnt an indication of a bacterial infection. What makes people give themselves a high health rating independent of indicators like their medical records or a doctor evaluation? Such factors include following positive lifestyle habits like regular exercise, having a strong social network and feeling a high level of emotional well-being. People who fit the bill are less likely to get sick and more likely to live longer, the researchers found. Conversely, people who think of their health as poor tend to have a poor health trajectory as they age. On the subject of warding off the common cold, a separate study done at Carnegie Mellon along with researchers at the University of California, San Francisco found that just one extra hour of sleep can make a difference. Sleeping less than six hours a night makes you four times more likely to catch a cold than people who get more than seven hours. Sleep less than five hours and youre four and a half times more likely to be felled by a cold, the researchers reported. The bottom line? Start taking steps to boost your health today and make the first one getting a better nights sleep. HealthDay