Busting flu myths

Posted on 21 July 2014

It’s flu season and that probably means you’re sniffing and sneezing. We bust four myths you may still believe. 

Is it better to sniff rather than blow my nose?
Medically it doesn’t really seem to matter (although, your colleagues and friends may prefer the tissue route rather than you sniffing for hours on end). What does matter, however, is the pressure you apply when blowing your nose. Generally, we blow our noses much harder than necessary. Remember, the distance from your upper throat to your nostrils is small – it doesn’t take much effort to move the mucus from one end to the other. You’re unlikely to use too much pressure when you sniff, but if you blow, do it gently.

Can I go out with wet hair?
This really is just a myth. There’s on one way to catch the flu: by being exposed to the influenza virus. According to Harvard Health Publications, flu coincides with winter and cold weather, which is probably why we tend to associate getting sick with a cold environment. You’re more likely to get sick from huddling indoors with family or friends (who may already have the flu) than you are from going out into the cold after washing your hair.

Is it ok to stop a sneeze?
Absolutely not. When you feel a sneeze coming, you can usually stop it by squeezing the bridge of your nose. Rather keep a tissue at hand because you shouldn’t stop a sneeze. Sneezing happens for a reason: to expel irritating or harmful substances such as pollen, dust or mould. When you suppress a sneeze, you’re either not going to eliminate the noxious substance or that the sneeze reflex will recur. However, stopping a sneeze is unlikely to cause a brain aneurysm, as some urban legends would like us to believe. You may put undue pressure on the Eustachian tubes, though, which connect the middle-ear cavities with the area of the upper throat that lies behind the nose. As a result, fluid and harmful bacteria can be forced into the middle ear, which could lead to an ear infection.

Is it true that I must starve a fever and feed a cold?
The answer here is no. You should choose fruit and vegetables that are high in vitamin C to boost your immune system but there’s not much evidence to show that going without food when you have a temperature helps, or that you should fill up on nutrient-dense foods when you have a cold. You may lose your appetite when you’re running a fever but that means your immune system can focus on warding off the infection. If you’re hungry you should eat and make a point of drinking fluids as this will help fight the fever. As for feeding a cold, rather eat normally as the cold may last a few days. The best advice? Rest and eat healthily all year!

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The information provided in this article was correct at the time of publishing. At Mediclinic we endeavour to provide our patients and readers with accurate and reliable information, which is why we continually review and update our content. However, due to the dynamic nature of clinical information and medicine, some information may from time to time become outdated prior to revision.