Imported Nasopharyngitis

As you can see, last week's schedule was fairly crammed with visits to Miag-ao, the municipality where the university I'll be attending is located. It was also filled with reports about the hottest recorded temperature for the year (last April 26). It was a rather stupid idea to go out at around noon time and have ourselves fried but I guess completing requirements is a much more urgent matter.


I mentioned before in a post that my best friend came home from her vacation in Palawan. She was thoughtful enough to bring me some delicious crinkles, which someone indecently stole from the fridge, and an awesome turtle key chain. Just when I thought her generosity couldn't get any more satisfying, she also brought (this is where epic music comes in, drums start to roll and lights begin to dim and focus on me) the common cold.

Right now I'm unintentionally spreading the virus throughout the house by sneezing and coughing everywhere. The scorching heat isn't helping either. Last Friday I woke up with a sore throat, seemingly inflamed sinuses and a face that could rival the Grinch's, and now I have a year's supply of mucus and phlegm. Rhinoviruses and coronaviruses are very annoying critters. Researchers should come up with the vaccine fast.

Well, you know the trend. I'm going to make myself feel better by pretending to be a health consultant and listing down unknown tidbits about the common cold.

1. It takes about two days for the common cold to show symptoms.

2. A symptom of the common cold is loss of appetite, but did you know that viral infections can cause weight gain? A study was done on children who were attacked by the adenovirus, which causes cold symptoms as well as gastrointestinal problems. The researchers found out that the infected children were 50 pounds more work on the weighing scale than healthy kids.

3. Coffee and soda are evidently bad for people with colds. Coffee is a diuretic, which means it increases the flow of urine and dehydrates you. Hot tea and soup are the best liquid remedies for common colds.

If you happen to catch a cold, do get plenty of sleep and take your meds regularly. These help a lot.