What’s the Best Way to Treat the Common Cold?
治疗普通感冒的最佳方法
词汇：考研 | 句法：五级 | 文本：考研
刘立军 供稿
Throughout history, humans have devised countless remedies for the common cold. Ancient Egyptian doctors combined incantations with breast milk treatments, while 18th-century Europeans turned to bloodletting. In 1924, even U.S. President Calvin Coolidge tried an extreme solution: inhaling toxic chlorine gas. Thankfully, modern approaches are less dangerous, but with pharmacy shelves packed with cold remedies, understanding what works can still be a challenge.
纵观历史，人类为普通感冒设计了无数的疗法。古埃及医生将咒语与母乳治疗相结合，而18世纪的欧洲人则转向放血疗法。1924年，甚至连美国总统卡尔文·柯立芝都尝试了一种极端的解决方案：吸入有毒的氯气。幸运的是，现代的方法不那么危险，但药店货架上摆满了感冒疗法，要弄清楚哪种有效仍然是一个挑战。
The Cause of Cold Symptoms 感冒症状的原因
Colds stem from a variety of viruses, but the symptoms we endure — like congestion and coughing — are not directly caused by the viruses themselves. Instead, they arise from our immune system’s response. When a virus invades, white blood cells release cytokines, which summon more immune cells to the fight. This results in inflammation, leading to nasal congestion. Meanwhile, your body increases mucus production to trap and expel the virus, which can irritate airways and cause coughing and sore throat.
感冒由多种病毒引发，但我们忍受的症状——如鼻塞和咳嗽——并不是由病毒本身直接引起的。相反，它们源于我们免疫系统的反应。当病毒入侵时，白细胞释放细胞因子，召唤更多的免疫细胞参与战斗。这导致炎症，从而导致鼻塞。同时，你的身体增加粘液的产生，以困住并排出病毒，这可能会刺激气道并引起咳嗽和喉咙痛。
How Cold Remedies Work 感冒疗法原理
Since cold symptoms arise from our immune response rather than the virus, most over-the-counter remedies target symptoms rather than attacking the virus itself. Here’s a breakdown of common treatments and their functions:
由于感冒症状源于我们的免疫反应而不是病毒，大多数非处方疗法针对症状而不是攻击病毒本身。以下是常见治疗及其功能的分类：
1. Nasal Decongestants 鼻充血剂
If you’re tired of a stuffy nose, decongestants like pseudoephedrine can help. They stimulate norepinephrine release, which reduces blood flow to swollen nasal passages, easing congestion and improving airflow. These come in pills or syrups and can provide temporary relief.
如果你厌倦了鼻塞，像伪麻黄碱这样的鼻充血剂可以帮助。它们刺激去甲肾上腺素释放，减少流向肿胀鼻道的血流，缓解鼻塞并改善气流。这些药物以药片或糖浆的形式提供，并能提供暂时的缓解。
2. Cough Suppressants 镇咳剂
Persistent coughing can be exhausting, and suppressants like dextromethorphan target brain regions responsible for triggering coughs. While their exact mechanism isn’t fully understood, dextromethorphan is effective at quieting coughs when used as directed. However, misuse can cause hallucinatory effects, so follow the dosage carefully.
持续的咳嗽可能会令人筋疲力尽，像右美沙芬这样的抑制剂针对大脑中触发咳嗽的区域。虽然它们的确切作用机制尚未完全明晰，但按说明使用时，右美沙芬能有效平息咳嗽。然而，滥用可能导致幻觉效应，因此请仔细遵循剂量说明。
3. Expectorants 祛痰剂
Not all coughing is bad; it can help clear mucus and relieve congestion. Expectorants, such as guaifenesin, work by thinning mucus, making it easier to expel. By lubricating airways, they improve the effectiveness of coughs rather than suppressing them.
并非所有的咳嗽都是坏事；它可以帮助清除粘液并缓解鼻塞。像愈创甘油醚这样的祛痰剂通过稀释粘液来工作，使其更容易排出。通过润滑气道，它们提高了咳嗽的效果，而不是抑制它们。
4. Antihistamines 抗组胺药
Though histamines are typically associated with allergies, antihistamines can also relieve cold symptoms like a runny nose. Diphenhydramine (found in Benadryl) blocks histamine activity and regulates mucus production, but it can cause drowsiness by interfering with brain functions related to wakefulness.
尽管组胺通常与过敏有关，但抗组胺药也可以缓解像流鼻涕这样的感冒症状。苯海拉明（在苯那君中找到）阻断组胺活动并调节粘液产生，但它会干扰与清醒相关的大脑功能，从而可能导致嗜睡。
Are These Remedies Effective? 这些疗法有效吗？
While these treatments can reduce discomfort, they don’t directly combat the viruses or necessarily speed up recovery. Many active ingredients were introduced decades ago, and their efficacy is still under review. Holistic remedies like zinc and vitamin C are popular, but evidence of their effectiveness is mixed. However, honey has shown promise for soothing coughs and may even shorten illness duration by a day or two.
虽然这些治疗可以减轻不适，但它们并不直接对抗病毒，也不一定能加速康复。许多活性成分是几十年前引入的，它们的有效性仍在审查中。像锌和维生素C这样的整体疗法很受欢迎，但它们的效果证据参差不齐。然而，蜂蜜在缓解咳嗽方面已显示出一定希望，甚至可能将病程缩短一两天。
The Bottom Line 底线
The perfect cold cure remains elusive, but understanding how remedies work can help you choose the best option for your symptoms. Whether using over-the-counter products or natural remedies, informed decisions can make a cold less miserable.
完美的感冒疗法仍然难以寻觅，但了解疗法如何工作可以帮助你你根据自身症状选择最佳方案。无论是使用非处方产品还是自然疗法，明智的决策可以使感冒不那么痛苦。
【词汇】
1. incantation n. 咒语，施法
2. chlorine n. 氯
3. congest v. 充血，堵塞
4. inflame v. 使发炎；激怒
5. nasal adj. 鼻的，与鼻有关的
6. mucus n. 粘液，痰
7. stuffy adj. （鼻子）堵塞的；不通气的
8. decongestant n. 去充血剂，解充血药
9. pseudoephedrine n. 伪麻黄碱（一种药物成分）
10. norepinephrine n. 去甲肾上腺素（一种神经递质）
11. syrup n. 糖浆；糖浆类药品
12. hallucinate v. 产生幻觉，幻想
13. histamine n. 组胺（一种生物胺）
14. diphenhydramine n. 苯海拉明（一种抗组胺药）
15. drowsy adj. 昏昏欲睡的，困倦的
16. discomfort n. 不适，不舒服
17. efficacy n. 功效，效力
18. holistic adj. 整体的，全面的
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