Health and

Health and

Safety Tips

Old King Cold Is a kingsized troublemaker. The American Medical Association's new pamphlet on the common cold reports that Old King Cold costs the United States $5 billion annually In lost wages, lostproduction and medical expenses. MoreJhan 150 million days per year are lost from our work force. More than 20 million people suffer Jrom colds on any given wintry day/THe common cold is the most costly ailment In our country, as well as in most other countries. The common cold is defined as an acute upper reppiratorv tract Inflammation that ordinarily is_ commijnTc IT51 a ancT iVcaused by virusesT But this definition has little meaning since the popular use of the word "cold” includes everything from a minor sniffle and a nasal obstruction to a disabling illness similar to influenza. A number of viruses produce the symptoms we call a cold, possibly as many as a hundred. The true cold is an infection with one or more viruses. Current research seems to indicate that colds are harder to catch than has been thought In controlled studies, close contact for several hours was necessary before cross infect ion occurred. Fresh colds appear to be more contagious than order ones, and children's colds "have been shown to be more contagious than those of adults. Even apparently well persons may harbor cold viruses and may infect others. Low temperatures and inclement weather, in themselves, probably have little to do with precipitating colds. Dampness and chill have been suspected of causing colds, but experimental evidence now indicates that they are probably only triggering factors. The relative humidity of the air may be important, however.