# Spreading of Colds **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 5, 2002, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spreading-of-colds/112487 "2002-06-05T14:19:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Chekmate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/46a35a/32.png) [@Chekmate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chekmate)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2002, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spreading-of-colds/112487/1 "2002-06-05T14:19:29Z")
Here’s a question that should be of interest to everyone. When we catch a cold we hack and cough and sneeze. Are we using our bodies defences to rid ourselves of a viral enemy? or are we being used and manipulated by the virus in order to project viral spores outside of us to infect others? ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2002, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spreading-of-colds/112487/2 "2002-06-05T14:53:05Z")
I think your hacking, coughing and sneezing are merely side effects of your body trying to rid itself of the infecting agent by various means. It just so happens that the virus or bacteria benefits from this behavior but I don’t think it can be said that the virus _causes_ this behavior in order to spread itself. ---
**Author:** ![Anomalocaris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b77776/32.png) [@Anomalocaris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anomalocaris)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2002, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spreading-of-colds/112487/3 "2002-06-05T17:24:36Z")
Cold viruses (rhinoviruses) invade and irritate the mucous membranes. The mucous membranes, in response, produce vast quantities of the good stuff. You hack and cough to rid the body of this excess mucous. This is bad for the viruses, whether you spit out the mucous (Ugh!) or swallow it (double Ugh!) the virus-laden mucous exits your body. So all of the nasty incidents that occur during a bout with the Common C is your body helping itself. That’s why cough supressants should not be taken during a cold- you have to cough to get rid of it! It’s better to take an ‘expectorant,’ which makes the slimy stuff easier to expel. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2002, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spreading-of-colds/112487/4 "2002-06-05T23:22:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Anomalocaris \* > \*\* you have to cough to get rid of it! \*\* Untrue. You will get rid of the virus whether you cough or not. You cough to rid yourself of excess secretions, whether said secretions contain virus or not. And the virus will run its course whether you cough it up or not. Failing to rid yourself of the excess secretions could result in secondary pneumonias, however. My rule of thumb for cough suppression: Save it for worse coughs, the ones that won’t let you rest or be comfortable at all. Then just use enough to take the edge off of the symptoms, so you can rest better. But if you’re truly unwell, see a doctor. QtM, MD ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2002, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spreading-of-colds/112487/5 "2002-06-05T23:25:43Z")
**Anomalocaris** , I realize I may have mis-read the intent of your reply. I thought you were saying one had to cough to get rid of the virus. I now realize you may have been saying one should cough to get rid of the secretions. Sorry about that.