Brrrr...Debunking Cold Myths!

Myths about the cold


www.care2.org

Myth: Blowing on your fingers will help warm them.

Fact: You should never blow on your hands to warm them since the resultant moisture (present in exhaled air)may cause the skin to freeze or re-freeze. A better choice is to place cold fingers in the armpits where your body heat will slowly re-warm them...

Myth: Bundle up or you'll catch a cold.

Fact: How well you bundle up has nothing to do with catching a cold or not catching a cold. Viruses and bacteria causes upper respiratory illness not cold air.

Myth: You're more likely to catch a cold from someone who sneezes than by holding or shaking someone's hand.

Fact: Colds are most commonly spread by hand-to-hand contact, so be sure to wash your hands frequently and thoroughly, especially if you come in contact with common areas such as doorknobs, telephones, public restrooms, automated teller machines and elevator buttons, where other hands have been.

Myth: You should feed a cold and starve a fever.

Fact: No one knows exactly where this old saying originated, but there is no scientific evidence that eating will help ease cold symptoms, or avoiding food will reduce a fever.

Myth: Eat snow to stave off thirst.

Although snow breaks down into a liquid when eaten, it should be melted first. If snow is eaten, your body uses energy to break it down to a liquid and heat is lost in the process.

Myth: Drinking alcohol will help you stay warm.

Alcohol causes blood vessels to dilate, which increase blood flow to the surface of the skin and away from your body's core. Heat is then quickly radiated away from the body.

(Thanks JoAnn for the idea!)

Original source:
http://www.local10.com/health/4996676/detail.html?rss=mia&psp=health