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By Ibn Akbar most widely known way to spread a simple as purchasing over-the-counter
cold of any kind is through direct hand medications prescribed by a physician,
As the holiday season inches closer, contact. but other common illnesses aren’t so
the smell of good food and the joy of Fighting the common cold is as simply defeated.
gift giving is not the only thing brewing
in the air. Runny noses and achy bodies
may very well be sitting next to you at
the dinner table, and there’s always fear
of the dreadful gift-giving hand covered
with germs and cold-inducing debris.
While celebrating the holidays with
family and friends is a time of great joy,
it is also important to be aware of the
health risks associated with seemingly
innocent displays of affection among
relatives and friends during the holidays,
physicians say.
According to Dr. Sherell Mason,
attending family physician of Total
Health Care Inc., “Overt displays of
affection are food for the soul, but can
also lead to the spread of community
illnesses such asinfluenza virus and the
common cold.”
The common cold, which is a group
of viruses that cause respiratory infec-
tion, is prevalent all year round, but
tends to catch its prey more often dur-
ing the fall and winter seasons–just in
time for the holidays.
In most common cold cases, symp-
toms vary from nasal congestion to high
fever. A runny nose, sore throat and
cough may also be prevalent. However,
these symptoms do not appear in any
particular order and may come with
or without the accommodation of
another. According to statistics from
the Baltimore-based Total Health Care
system, the average adult battles the
common cold at least two to three times
a year while children, known to have
weaker immune systems, often com-
bat the illness up to seven times each
year. While children and adults tend to
attach to the common cold at various
rates, both have the potential to pass on
their sickness to others. The general and
26 Trends A publication of the Afro-American Newspapers
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