Health News
Common cold virus strikes again
Antibiotics are used to
fight bacteria and not
viruses that cause
the common cold
By Megan Turner
Higher Education Reporter
You’re sneezing, coughing,
wheezing and, if that weren’t
enough, you have a paper due to
morrow and all you feel like do
ing is snoozing. You’ve tried to
deny it, but it is starting to be
come a reality: You’ve got a cold.
Although there isn’t a cure for
the common cold yet, there are
some things you can do to im
prove the situation.
The upper respiratory infec
tion, also known as a cold, is
caused by a virus that is transmit
ted through direct contact. Colds
are, of course, very common: The
average adult will suffer about
two to four colds a year, mostly
during the winter months, al
though the "cold season” usually
begins in the fall.
There are several different
viruses that can cause a cold,
which is why it has been very
difficult for scientists to make a
vaccine, said Dr. Donna Scurlock
of the Student Health Center.
Generally speaking, however,
symptoms of the common cold
can last a week, maybe more, de
pending on a person’s immune
system. The viruses that cause
colds in most people are usually
transmitted by air, when a person
sneezes or coughs, or by secre
tions, such as when a person
touches a desk and then touches
his or her face.
Symptoms may not show for
one or two days, but when they
do they are numerous: nasal dis
charge, a sore throat, coughing,
headaches, low fever and fatigue
are classic symptoms, Scurlock
said. Cigarette smokers tend to
have much stronger symptoms,
and a cold for these people may
last longer.
Preventative measures to avoid
colds include a healthy diet, low
stress levels and regular exercise.
Vitamin C and Zinc, which have
been associated with cold protec
tion, have brought conflicting re
sults in recent studies. Scurlock
said it doesn't hurt to keep taking
them if you think they work or if
your doctor recommends them.
As for alleviating cold symp
toms, Scurlock said there are sev
eral options.
“As with anything, when
there’s not a cure there are more
ways to make it better,” she said.
Decongestants and antihista
mines may help but are not effec
tive for all people. They can help
clear nasal passages and relieve
headaches, but they may also
cause side effects such as drowsi
ness or excitability. Also, cough
drops and cough medicines may
reduce coughing and soothe sore
throats temporarily; some cough
medicines, however, contain al
cohol and can cause drowsiness.
In other words, they shouldn’t be
taken if someone has a really big
paper to write.
Antibiotics, such as penicillin,
are an emphatic no, Scurlock
said. Bacteria are the prime tar
gets for antibiotics, not viruses;
hence, antibiotics are not useful
in combating the common cold.
She said many doctors have been
unnecessarily prescribing antibi
otics for people without bacterial
infections. As a result, some pa
tients have developed an immu
nity to antibiotics and are unable
to use antibiotics if faced with an
actual bacterial infection.
According to an article by the
Division of General Internal Med
icine, 12 million antibiotic pre
scriptions, or 20 percent overall,
were given to patients with viral
infections.
You should only see a doctor
when you have any of these
symptoms: a significantly high
fever; unusually thick nasal
drainage; breathing difficulties;
blood produced by coughing; or
symptoms that continue to wors
en after a week, Scurlock said.
Scurlock said she recommends
self-care, or treating the cold
without over-the-counter med
ications or prescriptions. She
said by listening to your body
and doing what it says, a cold is
n’t likely to hang around as long.
Sleep when drowsy, drink lots of
liquids, eat well and don’t go to
class if you don’t feel well
enough. After all, no one else
wants to get sick.
A CALL FOR
PROJECTS
Asia in Focus:
VtofcergrAbviAte Perspective
What is it: A conference for undergraduate students
with an interest in Asia. Students will present and
share projects involving things like research papers,
reading creative writing, displaying a visual arts
project, or demonstrating Asian music, dance
or martial arts. The conference is FREE with travel
and food provided.
The conference will be held on Saturday, Movember 15, 1997 from 9 30 a m
- 5 00 p m , at Lewis & Clark College, plus an evening world music
performance It will also include video previews and Job and Internship
Information
To join: submit a one-page abstract (short description) of what you would like
to present to The Center for Aslan and Pacific 5tudles (CAPS), 110 Gerllnger
hall, University of Oregon
If you have any questions, please contact
Anne Mauboussin at 346-1522or amaub@oregon.uoregon.edu
The proposal deadline is Wednesday. October 15, by 5:00 p.m. at CAPS
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Wl LLAMETTE UNIVERSITY
PRESENTS
COM PAG Nil: CLAUDE BEAUCLAIR PARIS
IN
I A DERNIERE BANDE DE
SAMUEL BECKETT
THURSDAY. OCTOBER 23. 1997
11:00 A M
ONLY SHOWING IN OREGON
$8 ADULT • $6 STUDENT
$5 STUDENT GROUPS (10 OR MORE)
SMITH AUDITORIUM-WILLAMETTE UNIVERSITY-SALEM. ORE
DEPARTMENT OF ERENCII
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CTRI A 13
‘Reserved
EMU
Ticket
Office
FEATURE EVENTS FOR
THE WEEK ARE:
Calobo
October 21, EMU Ballroom
Jars of Clay
October 18, Hult Center
Eugene Ballet's Romeo and Juliet
October 25-26, Hult Center
DJSpooky
October 15, W.O.W. Hall
Open Monday-Friday 8-7:30
Sunday 12-4, Saturday 10-4
The EMU Ticket Office is an outlet for Fastixx, Hult
Center, W.O.W. Hall, EMU and UO Athletic tickets.
> /2 price
(It S’// YCS after 2.30pm
in the EMU Food Service Locations
beginning Monday. October 13th
EMU Food Service Customer
Appreciation Day.
Thanks for bearing with us during our remodeling. Coupons
drawings, free gifts at all EMU Food Service Locations.
w ATM's in
pthe EMU
Temporary location
EMU Breezeway
(across from Campus Copy)
U-Lane-O Credit Union •
Bank of America • Key Bank
• South Umpqua Bank •
US Bank • Wells Fargo
BIRD
Identification Walk
Is it a Hawk? ...Turkey? ...Vulture???
Knowing local birds and their songs greatly enhances
awareness and enjoyment of hiking and being
outdoors. Join UO Ornithology Instructor, Dan
Gleason, for a morning walk at Fern Ridge to learn
how to identify some of our local wild bird population.
Preregistration required. Transportation provided.
Bring binoculars!
Free for UO students and Co-op members; $2 general public.
Saturday, 7:OOam-10:00am, Meet at the OP
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§eutfiern 0reg
on
Local Author, William Sullivan, proves there's more
to Southern Oregon adventure than just Crater
Lake and the Rogue River, Discover hot springs
near Roseburg, wildflower meccas near Ashland,
secret lakes in the Trinity Alps, and much .
more! Sullivan is the author of six books
about exploring Oregon, and always put c
on an entertaining show full of great
adventure tips and natural history
anecdotes.
SI general admission, free to students and OP
Co-op members Wednesday. 7:30pm.
110 Willamette Hall