Got a cold? "Drink lots of fluids." Really?! Why?

[Melbourne]

@DSeid

…it is not primarily a gastroenteric illness; it is primarily respiratory. No most pediatric deaths from influenza are not from dehydration. The major complications associated with fatality are pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), seizures, encephalopathy, and bacterial co-infections. Generally deaths are among the unvaccinated.

Without arguing about the nature of influenza, note that bacterial pneumonia seems to be a major cause of death in that survey of “influenza related deaths”, and one of the suggestions is that young children have vaccination against bacterial pneumonia.

Having reviewed the thread, I see no reason to change my original opinion: if you stop eating, you should drink small amounts of fluids on a regular basis, and you should not cease doing so because of sickness. If your subject is young or elderly, you should take special care.

[Measure_for_Measure]

@DSeid

Our bodies have been pretty finely tuned by selection over many many many years to maintain water balance. A pretty basic job from early organisms on. Barring a real problem, like a hormonal, brain, or kidney issue, or inability to get to appropriate fluids, or psychiatric issue that makes one choose to inappropriately drink, our systems work pretty damn well to keep hydration levels just fine. Even in very hot environs.

In fact even the advice for hydration during endurance activity is increasingly moving towards letting thirst be your guide, with individuals over-hydrating and diluting out their sodium levels with serious consequences as the cautionary tale to the keep your pee light when running a marathon advice.

I respectfully disagree with WhyNot here: bottom line, pay attention to your thirst and drink when thirsty and don’t if not.

Based on my last bout, I’m leaning towards the, “Drink plenty of fluids”, rule of thumb.
I recently got hit with chills and fever. Delirious, I recalled the advice of simply paying attention to my thirst. I wasn’t thirsty, so I just hit the sack. I awoke sort of thirsty, but also reluctant to leave my warm bed due to chills and fatigue. I did so anyway, and ended up drinking a lot of water.

Advantages of the “Drink plenty of fluids” rule of thumb:

1. In my case I was going to do so anyway, so no harm no foul.
2. It encourages me to a) take a pre-emptive gulp of water and moreover b) place a pitcher or glass of water next to my bedside table.
3. It doesn’t feel odd to drink plentiful thirst driven fluids.

@WhyNot

…primarily because it tends to make people feel better to “do something.” Really, I could tell them to sacrifice a rooster at the crossroads, and it would make them feel better to be doing something.

This too.
Note that I’m not really denying the medical observations made above, merely suggesting that “Drink plenty of fluids” is a decent rule of thumb. I’m guessing that over-hydration during colds or flu isn’t a big problem.

[Mangetout]

@GrumpyBunny

My intended always said that alcohol was the most effective cough suppressant you can get OTC. It might’ve been hyperbole on his part, but if he was home sick with a cold, he would only use a decongestant and/or Mucinex, and whiskey in his tea for the cough. And he had access to “the good stuff”.

Sloe gin for me. And hot spicy noodle soup. Does nothing to the virus, but helps clear mucus and drain sinuses, which will alleviate some of the symptoms of a cold.

Likewise with hydration (a doctor told me this). Your immune system is busy killing pathogens and the waste products of this process are mildly toxic. Hydration will enable your body to flush out these byproducts (at least more so than if you are dehydrated)