Dr. Giulia Enders

It'll induce little wounds during that, and it'll make the nerve cells more sensible,

with all the inflammation.

So that's where your sore throat comes from.

Or also the runny nose is a mechanism where when there's an infection or a bacteria or virus noticed in the cells, the immune system will trigger the blood vessels to become porous.

And through these porous cells, suddenly the fluids from the bloodstream enter the tissue.

And that's good because the immune cells can come with that.

They can go to the place where the infection is happening through those pores and they get there, get to the trouble spot.

But also all the liquids that are coming out of the blood are then creating this swelling and runny nose.

And the runny nose will expel whatever is there, just like diarrhea does expel a bad germ or coughing does expel viruses in a load so that you don't all have to fight them.

You're just, you know, getting rid of them, have fewer of them after.

And fever is also a way of the immune system really driving up its own temperature of the body with the help of the brain to then have the virus or bacteria feel uncomfortable with this changed temperature.

And also tell other immune system cells that are further away, oh, we're activating this higher temperature mode, so we might all get a bit engaged here.

So if these symptoms of, let's start with the cold maybe, if the symptoms of the cold are like my immune system doing its job right, should I be taking any medicines that might interrupt this?

This is debated and there's data on multiple aspects.

And for the very first question, which is, should I take something like anti-inflammatory drugs when I have a cold?

Some research say don't because it might prolong the cold for another 24 hours, an estimate.

And others say, oh, do, because it doesn't really change anything, but you'll just feel better afterwards.

Some things are a really good idea.

For example, decongestant nasal spray, because they'll actually, when it gets too bad with the nose and you can't breathe and eat and sleep, then really you should take some before it spreads to the ears.

Because the ears go through the same channel and if it's all swollen up, they can't really air and clean out and eat.