The common cold is most typically caused by the rhinovirus[1]. Symptoms start showing up within 24-48 hours of contracting the virus and include the following:
- Sore throat
- Fatigue
- Low-grade fever
- Nasal congestion
- Runny nose
- Watery eyes
- Cough
These symptoms last about 7 days for most and can make for a miserable week. It can also have a miserable effect on our nation's pocketbook. In fact, the common cold leads to $25 billion in lost productivity in our society due to absenteeism, reduction in on-the-job productivity, and caregiver absenteeism[2]. With so much at stake many people will do anything to feel better. Many of these efforts involve turning to age old remedies that our parents and grandparents handed down to us. But do these remedies work or do they just make our misery seem less, well, miserable?
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