Cold Season Prevention Pointers

Janet O'Mahony, M.D., is a primary care doctor and a member of Mercy Personal Physicians Downtown in Baltimore, Maryland. Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Dr. O'Mahony received her medical degree from the University of Maryland School of Medicine and completed her Internship at Baltimore VA Medical Center and Residency at Mercy Medical Center. Dr. O'Mahony responded to questions from the family wellness site, Mom.com, regarding "Cold Season Prevention Pointers".

Colds are caused by viruses. These viruses get into our respiratory system most commonly by droplets. These droplets come from another sick person and enter your respiratory system when you touch your eyes, nose or mouth. Some droplets can travel by air but only by a few feet. The same precautions used during the beginning of the COVID outbreak also helps against colds, since this is a similar type of virus. Social distancing, hand washing and avoiding touching your face with your hands after touching other things can stop those droplets from entering your respiratory system.

Colds are not caused by a faulty immune system. In fact, every cold you get boosts your immunity against that particular virus and to ones very similar. Younger children have less immunity to colds since they have not been exposed to as many viruses and typically will get seven to eight colds a year. This is how they build up immunity against future viruses. Adults typically get two to three colds annually because we have been exposed to most cold viruses previously. Parents of young children are exposed more than the general population and have more colds than the average adult.

You do not need to "boost your immune system" against colds because the colds themselves do that. In fact, a very active immune system accounts for much of the symptoms a cold causes - like swollen glands, lots of mucous and even cough.

Colds are not caused by rainy weather, dressing a certain way or wet hair.

Vitamin C has been proven not to treat or prevent colds. There are no herbs that have been shown to treat or prevent colds and many of these may have side effects and are not recommended to give to children. Any medication that claims to "boost your immune system" should be avoided because your immune system is a delicate balance between reacting to illness versus reacting to non-illness causing particles in our environment.

Believe it or not, flu shots have been shown to reduce the number of "colds" in people who get the flu vaccine. Likely these are milder viruses like influenza B which are included in the quadrivalent shots given annually.

Dr. O'Mahony serves and treats Downtown residents and families of Federal Hill, Canton, Fells Point, Baltimore Metro Center and the Mt. Vernon arts and cultural district. She provides diagnosis and treatment for common medical conditions, as well as management of long-term health conditions.