Is it true that taking certain foods like chicken, fried stuff and even cold water worsens coughs?

Question

I've heard these things all my life and have simply avoided them when down with a cough, but is there any basis for all these claims?

Answer 1

All of those practices mentioned are myths about colds. However, I do find that drinking a lot of cold water; iced drinks, letting my wet clothes get dry on my body do exacerbate my cold.

The following are facts about colds:

Common colds: Alternative names: Upper respiratory infection - viral; Cold

Definition
The common cold generally involves a runny nose, nasal congestion, and sneezing. You may also have a sore throat, cough, headache, or other symptoms. Over 200 viruses can cause a cold.


Colds can occur year-round, but they occur mostly in the winter (even in areas with mild winters). In areas where there is no winter, colds are most common during the rainy season.


When someone has a cold, their runny nose is teeming with cold viruses. Sneezing, nose-blowing, and nose-wiping spread the virus. You can catch a cold by inhaling the virus if you are sitting close to someone who sneezes, or by touching your nose, eyes, or mouth after you have touched something contaminated by the virus.

People are most contagious for the first 2 to 3 days of a cold, and usually not contagious at all by day 7 to 10

Parents often get them from the kids. Colds are the most common reason that children miss school and parents miss work

Adults and older children with colds generally have minimal or no fever. Young children, however, often run a fever around 100-102°F.

Once you have "caught" a cold, the symptoms usually begin in 2 or 3 days, though it may take a week. Typically, an irritated nose or scratchy throat is the first sign, followed within hours by sneezing and a watery nasal discharge.

Within one to three days, the nasal secretions usually become thicker and perhaps yellow or green. This is a normal part of the common cold and not a reason for antibiotics

The entire cold is usually over all by itself in about 7 days, with perhaps a few lingering symptoms (such as cough) for another week. If it lasts longer, see your doctor to rule out another problem such as a sinus infection or allergies

Treatment
Get plenty of rest and drink lots of fluids. Over-the-counter cold remedies may help ease your symptoms. These won't actually shorten the length of a cold, but can help you feel better.


Antibiotics should not be used to treat a common cold. They will not help and may make the situation worse. Thick yellow or green nasal discharge is not a reason for antibiotics, unless it doesn't get better within 10 to 14 days. (In this case, it may be sinusitis.

New antiviral drugs could make runny noses completely clear up a day sooner than usual (and begin to ease the symptoms within a day). It’s unclear whether the benefits of these drugs outweigh the risks.

Chicken soup has been used for treating common colds at least since the 12th century. It may really help. The heat, fluid, and salt may help you fight the infection

Here are five proven ways to reduce exposure to germs:

1) Switch day care: Using a day care where there are six or fewer children dramatically reduces germ contact.
2) Wash hands
3) Use instant hand sanitizers: A little dab will kill 99.99% of germs without any water or towels. The products use alcohol to destroy germs. They are an antiseptic, not an antibiotic, so resistance can't develop.
5) Disinfect: Clean commonly touched surfaces (sink handles, sleeping mats) with an EPA-approved disinfectant.


Here are seven ways to support the immune system:

-Avoid unnecessary antibiotics: The more people use antibiotics, the more likely they are to get sick with longer, more stubborn infections caused by more resistant organisms in the future.
-Breastfeed: Breast milk is known to protect against respiratory tract infections, even years after breastfeeding is done. Kids who don't breastfeed average five times more ear infections.
-Avoid second-hand smoke: Keep as far away from it as possible! It is responsible for many health problems, including millions of colds.
-Get enough sleep: Late bedtimes and poor sleep leave people vulnerable.
-Drink water: Your body needs fluids for the immune system to function properly.
-Eat yogurt: The beneficial bacteria in some active yogurt cultures help prevent colds.
-Take zinc: children and adults who are zinc deficient get more infections and stay sick longer.

Answer 2

It's actually fine taking all those stuffs, I used to think so too as everyone around me tells me so. Experiment them on many occassions but these are not the cause or things that make it worst. Avoid fruits however during this period, esp for dry cough, it irriates your throat and can make the cough worst.