Why don't we have a cure for the common cold?

[gnome]

"Even the dirt is CLEAN!"
--Rufus, "Bill & Ted"

 

[Beerina]

Each time you fight off a cold, you're fighting off a different virus, and gaining immunity to it for more or less the rest of your life. Each cold is a new cold...to you. I'm sure they're evolving rapidly, too.

 

[Modified]

How does that work? Do some treatments affect the immune system ability to react effectively?

Because coughing and sneezing help to get rid of surface viruses, inflammation of the nose and throat brings in more blood with more antibodies where they are needed, feeling crappy causes you to rest instead of running around, etc. Most of your cold symptoms are potentially effective at reducing the length of the cold. Of course, if you are coughing so much that you can't sleep or are injuring your lungs, then treatment of symptoms could help. There is also the philosophy of my research partner - me: "If you treat a cold, it will probably last longer," he: "Yeah, but if I feel good, why would I care?".

 

[lopeyschools]

Because coughing and sneezing help to get rid of surface viruses, inflammation of the nose and throat brings in more blood with more antibodies where they are needed, feeling crappy causes you to rest instead of running around, etc. Most of your cold symptoms are potentially effective at reducing the length of the cold. Of course, if you are coughing so much that you can't sleep or are injuring your lungs, then treatment of symptoms could help. There is also the philosophy of my research partner - me: "If you treat a cold, it will probably last longer," he: "Yeah, but if I feel good, why would I care?".

Thanks for the reply. I have a cold right now, so this is helpful. Kinda.

Nyquil rather then dayquil?

lol

 

[Beelzebuddy]

When it comes to colds, I prefer the more traditional restoratives.

 

[Prometheus]

We do.

I thought you were going to link to this

 

[lopeyschools]

When it comes to colds, I prefer the more traditional restoratives.

Quite the read!

I had some friends who were convinced drinking hard liquor was a cure for colds (or any sickness). They believed that since doctors sterilized objects with alcohol, a sufficient blood alcohol level would kill off germs. I tried to convince them that any blood alcohol level sufficient to kill off germs, would also probably ravage your cells as well.

Then again they might have just been alcoholics looking for an excuse.