The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

Not quite sleigh bells and mistletoe anymore.

Soprano sneezes blend with the deep, rattling timber of chest coughs as the frantic staccato of sniffling echoes through the tin can that my 300-student chemistry lecture has been crammed into like sardines. Some glumly clutch tissues while others cling to XL bottles of hand sanitizer, eyes wide and paranoid, knowing that there is no escape. Soon they too will join in this miserable melody: this symphony of sickness.

But this big bad is nothing more than a smidgen of protein and a dash of genetic material: the rhinovirus!

This image is provided by Welcome Images. 

Yes, the culprit of this doom and gloom is none other than a virus, one of the tiniest and simplest microbes around. In fact, most scientists don’t even consider them alive. But be careful not to underestimate them!

Sometimes less is more. For viruses, to be pragmatic and efficient is to thrive. Rhinoviruses, for one, have only one gene in the form of single-stranded RNA. This single gene contains instructions for assembly of 11 different proteins: four for the body of the virus, and the remainder for use in replication.

But packing light has its downfalls, such as hoarding the hotel shampoo and “borrowing” that one item you forgot, but just can’t survive without from the front desk. And viruses are no different. In fact, they’re some of the finest moochers around (second only to us starving college students, of course).

To cause a cold, a rhinovirus first hitches a ride on a receptor on the cells in our throat and nose, before finagling its way inside. There, the virus sweet talks the cell into making copies of and making proteins from the virus RNA rather than the cell’s own DNA. The new viruses created ultimately burst free to attack other nearby cells.

Ironically enough, however, the actual symptoms and feelings of illness and fatigue that complement a cold come from our own immune system rather than the virus itself. As the immune system digs the trenches, calls for reinforcements, and settles in to fight it out with the virus, it also drastically saps our energy and inflames the linings of our throat and nose.

Viruses clearly subscribe to the “strength in numbers” mentality. We have identified more than 200 different types of cold-causing viruses, but rhinoviruses, just one of these varieties, accounts for roughly half of cold cases each year. Unfortunately, due to their vast numbers, we will never be able to build up immunity to all of these viruses. According to Medical News Today, adults should anticipate suffering through 2-3 colds each year.

And contrary to the timeless warnings against sauntering outdoors in Wintertime because “you’ll catch cold,” it is actually our mass migration indoors and into closer confines with others during winter months that gets colds on the rise.

So how do you keep the cold at bay in college – the perfect recipe for illness?

The cold virus is transmitted either via direct contact with a contagious person, by inhaling droplets in the air from coughing or sneezing, or by touching an infected surface. But how is it possible to never contact an infected surface on a campus of more than 40,000 students?!

This photo is provided by Ethan Gruber. 

And to be honest, it’s probably not possible. But it is possible to keep anything from an infected surface from contacting your nose and mouth and causing an infection. Keeping your hands away from your face and sanitizing them before eating is a key to staving off the cold.

And as much as it has already been said, the legitimacy of bolstering our immune systems by eating vitamins, specifically vitamin C (can’t forget your OJ) and getting plenty of sleep, cannot be overstated. But another pointer is to avoid the gym if you do come down with a cold. While it is imperative to stay healthy in order to be able to deal with illness, exercise can actually weaken the immune system and exhausts even more energy when we need it most.

And this seems unfeasible for us caffeine-driven college students, but keep the stress under control! Stress puts a damper on our immune system and viruses take advantage. If left unattended cold viruses can sometimes advance into bronchitis or pneumonia. Remember it is just as important to take care of yourself as it is to get the grade!

For information on when to cave and talk to a doctor see this article from Mayo Clinic.

Good luck staying healthy!