Wednesday, 03 February 2010

• Got A Cold? Fight it like a man.

  
  

  No matter how much Rizzo wants to deny it, germs do exist, and yes, humans are susceptible to them, some more than others. Take me, for example. I exercise, I eat well, wash my hands only as much as is necessary — a good, healthy lifestyle. Of course, it doesn't make a damn bit of difference. When those microscopic organisms decide your body is their new home, there isn't much you can do about it. So last week, I caught my first cold of the year.
  
  And it sucks.
  
  But the parental rule has been carved into my mind, that rule being: "Unless you have a fever, are throwing up or bleeding profusely, you've got to get out of bed and get on with you life".
  
  It's good advice. If you're not dying, don't act like you are. Except, even if you're still functional, it doesn't make you any less sick. Which brings me to my point: how do you fight a nasty cold while still maintaining an air of manliness? A few suggestions for you: (they certainly helped me)
  
  -Exercise: I've talked to a lot of people who think that a good bit of physical activity is one of the best ways to send a cold packing. In truth, I'm not sure whether or not working up a sweat will help get rid of a virus, but it will make you feel better in general. The heat generated by your body should help break up congestion, and the endorphins will help get rid of headaches or other pain. It'll also help you get a better night's sleep. This one isn't so much about getting rid of the cold as it is about maintaining your level of health.
  
  -Eat More Than Usual: What could be manlier than scarfing down a hearty meal anyway? Eating a few good meals during the day will help keep your energy up, and give you the proper amount of nutrition to fight back against whatever it is you've caught. For those of you who really enjoy hot sauce, it's the perfect time to slather the stuff on everything, as many have been proven to clear up your sinuses.
  
  -Don't load up on medicine: There are hundreds, literally hundreds of cold remedies out there. Tylenol has theirs, as does Advil, not to mention Nyquil, Dayquil and any other kind of  'quil you can think of. Taking one once or twice, perhaps when your symptoms are the worst, is understandable. But if you're taking them three times a day for a week, you may want to rethink your strategy. Being a man means laughing in the face of your cold even after its given you its best shot. Masking the symptoms with meds only means you're too much of a wuss to fight it off yourself.
  
  Plus, I can't imagine pumping your body full of chemicals is ever a good idea (unless it's alcohol).
  
  -Yell at your cold: I'm being quite literal about this, as a matter of fact. As far as actually fighting off the bugger, this does nothing. However, telling your cold, out loud, preferably in front of people, wins you a big psychological victory. It's like Mel Gibson rallying the troops in Braveheart. If you convince yourself that you can fight off the cold effectively and efficiently, chances are good that you will. The saying it out loud part is just for dramatic effect.
  
  What are some other manly cold remedies?
  

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