by Ellen-Liba Bernadsky
Hello my dear alumni! I am absolutely thrilled to be taking part in this web site, especially since it gives me an excuse not to study. This is the first issue of this column and I will try to keep it interesting and sometimes even useful. The idea for this column occurred to me during a conversation with my mother. I had a sore throat at the time but mysteriously desired ice cream, which, due to the sore throat, my mother was reluctant to give me. After thoroughly explaining to her why the ice cream won't kill me, she gave in, still throwing suspicious glances at the pint of Hagen-Da'az I walked off with.
There are many science-related superstitions out there. Some are useless, some mildly amusing and some are borderline dangerous. I would like to help dispel some of these superstitions. This column is therefore dedicated to busting science myths wide open. What I need from my fellow alums is questions and myths that you may have encountered. Please e-mail them to me at DraculaGrl@aol.com and I will address your questions in the next edition of the "BHI Myth Crackers!" (Calling it Mythbusters would be violate someone's copyright, I think.)
This edition is all about colds. We've all had them, we all hate them, and we all have different family traditions that supposedly will make them go away faster. Just a little background: all colds are caused by viruses called rhinoviruses and the flu is caused by the influenza virus. While there is a vaccine for the yearly flu, there is none for the common cold. The viruses are spread in droplets from sneezing and coughing. These are sprayed all over the unsuspecting train passenger next to you and the virus happily hops from one person to the next. Once you have caught a particular virus and survived it, you are immune to that virus for life. The problem is the high rate of mutation of the viruses. Mutations disguise the viruses so the immune system can't recognize them; they're like secret agents constantly changing disguises! So grab some tissues and Sudafed (my drug of choice for colds) and get ready to uncover the truth!
Myth # 1. Only drink hot liquids when you have a cold and sore throat
Makes no difference. The temperature of the liquid you are drinking makes no difference. The virus thrives at normal body temperature, 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. Altering the temperature to higher or lower levels does exactly the same: kills some of the virus. Hot liquids burn them off and cold ones freeze them. Basically, the choice of drink relies on your preference; some people like the feel of hot tea and some like frozen pops. This doesn't mean that you should stop drinking when you have a cold. When you have a fever your body cools you off by sweating and sweating and not drinking will lead to dehydration, which will definitely not help your cold.
Myth # 2. Taking Vitamin C when you get sick will shorten your cold
Not true. In fact, there is no scientific evidence to support the use of Vitamin C during colds. While it is good for the urinary tract, Vitamin C doesn't seem to do anything for your cold, especially if taken after the progression of the virus. As it is supposedly a preventative medicine, taking Vitamin C when you are already sick will not shorten the cold. Not only that, but an excess of Vitamin C can lead to kidney stones, which will be far more unpleasant than the cold. An alternative that does work is a Zinc supplement. Zinc has been shown to prevent formation of new virus by messing up the cellular machinery used to synthesize it. Remember, taking it when you are sick won't help! You must take is a regular supplement for it to prevent colds.
Myth# 3. The Russian practices of BANKI and GORCHICHNEKI
All of us who remember Russia remember these two. Banki is the practice of placing small glass jars on one's back using suction created by a vacuum inside them. The vacuum was established by sticking a ball of flaming cotton inside the jar, depleting the oxygen. The patient then wound up with symmetric round black and blue marks on her back. This does absolutely nothing except decorate your back. The vacuum causes some blood vessels to burst and some to dilate. It may help someone with poor circulation but will not affect any aspect of the cold. Gorchichneki were paper strips with something like mustard on them that were applied to the back and kept there for about half an hour. This is another useless tradition and seems to have no effect at all, except to drive the patient to incessant itching and burning. There is no evidence at all that this would help in any way.
Myth# 4. Flu shots will make you sick
Semi-true. Most vaccines use an altered form of the disease-causing agent to prime your immune system. While responding to this mild form of the disease, the immune system develops a memory for the virus and is ready to deal with it faster when it encounters it in the wild. Some people have a stronger reaction to vaccines than others but serious reactions are rare. That said, conventional flu shots don't work anyway. The one that does work, called Flu-Mist is a nasal spray that is not readily available. If you are a young healthy adult you don't really need a flu shot. Your body is perfectly capable of handling it on it's own; all you'll lose is a couple of days with a fever and a stuffy nose.
Myth# 5. Antibiotics must be taken for a flu or cold
No way! Never-ever take antibiotics for a cold unless you are immunocompromised. First of all, antibiotics only work on bacteria, not viruses! Antibiotics are developed to respond to topographical factors of different bacteria and the viruses manage to evade them by residing inside the host's cells. The worst thing about taking antibiotics needlessly is the immunity that bacteria develop to them. The process works this way: the antibiotic kills all the bacteria that are susceptible to it. This leaves a few that are immune and do not respond to the treatment. These few bacteria now have an empty environment devoid of other bacteria to compete with them and multiply like crazy and fully out-compete the normal strains. The result of this is that when you will need an antibiotic it might not work. The immune strains also have a nasty habit of spreading from person to person. This is the basis of nosocomial (hospital-acquired) infections. The bacteria have lived through so much that nothing gets them anymore. Finally, if your doctor does prescribe antibiotics, make sure to take the full course! Don't stop the second you feel better; this will not give bacteria time to become immune.
This is it for the first issue! I hope you enjoyed it because I really enjoyed working on it. Feel free to let me know what you liked and what you didn't so I can alter it to suit the needs for the public, and please don't forget to e-mail me your questions and ideas, you are an integral part of my creative process!!
