What’s the best way to treat the common cold?

翻译人员: Liwen Huang 校对人员: Tianyun Liu

Throughout history,

从古至今，

one persistent ailment has inspired a variety of treatments.

一种持续的疾病启发了各种疗法。

In ancient Egypt, doctors used incantations and breast milk remedies.

在古埃及， 医生使用咒语和母乳疗法。

In 18th century Europe, bloodletting was a popular choice.

在 18 世纪的欧洲， 放血是一个普遍的的选择。

And when President Calvin Coolidge was afflicted in 1924,

1924 年卡尔文·柯立芝总统 饱受病痛折磨的时候，

his ill-advised solution was inhaling poisonous chlorine gas.

他不明智的解决办法是 吸入有毒的氯气。

These are just a few of history’s many creative attempts

这些只是历史上缓解普通感冒

to soothe the common cold.

众多富有创造性尝试中的几个。

Today, pharmacies are filled with a seemingly mountainous assortment

如今，药房里摆满了看似种类繁多的

of cold remedies.

感冒药。

But how do these products work? And are they effective?

这些药品是如何起作用的？ 它们有效吗？

While colds are caused by a variety of viruses,

虽然感冒是由各种病毒引起的，

their nasty symptoms aren't actually produced by the viruses themselves.

但令人难受的感冒症状实际上 并不是由病毒本身引起的。

Rather, they’re the result of your body’s natural defenses.

确切地说， 它们是身体自然防御的结果。

When a virus is detected, white blood cells release proteins called cytokines,

发现病毒时，白细胞会释放出 叫细胞因子的蛋白质，

which recruit more pathogen-fighting immune cells to the area.

这些蛋白质会召集更多的 抗病原免疫细胞到该区域。

To aid in this bombardment, blood vessels widen,

为了帮助这一轰击， 血管扩张，

and it's this inflammation that leads to a blocked, stuffy nose.

正是这种炎症导致了鼻塞。

The body dials up mucus production in an effort to trap and expel pathogens.

人体会增加粘液分泌， 以困住和排出病原体。

But this mucus can irritate and inflame airways,

但这些粘液会刺激气道， 使气道发炎，

causing coughing and a sore throat.

导致咳嗽和嗓子疼。

Since the viruses causing colds are so varied,

由于引起感冒的病毒种类繁多，

pharmacy products aren't designed to attack viruses,

药房的药品目的不在攻击病毒，

but rather to alleviate the most common symptoms.

而是缓解最常见的症状。

So which pill, syrup, or spray should you choose?

那么你应该选择哪种 药片、糖浆或喷剂呢？

Or should you ditch the pharmacy and try a home remedy?

还是应该抛弃药房尝试家庭疗法？

It depends.

这要视情况而定。

Most pharmacy products contain a painkiller,

大多数药房的药品含止痛成分，

in addition to one or several other active ingredients,

以及一种或几种其它有效成分，

or those mystifying chemical names stamped onto the packaging.

即那些印在包装上神秘的化学名称。

While there are over a dozen cold-related ingredients available,

虽然有十几种 感冒相关的成分可供选择，

most fall into one of four symptom-fighting categories:

但大多属于四种 对抗症状类别中的一种：

if you’re sick of dealing with the mucous-y mess oozing from your nostrils,

如果你受够了应付鼻孔流出的粘液，

you may want to take nasal decongestants, like pseudoephedrine.

你可能想用鼻减充血剂， 如伪麻黄碱。

This snot-fighter, found in pills and syrups,

这种药片和糖浆中含的止涕成分，

promotes the release of norepinephrine,

会促进去甲肾上腺素的释放，

a chemical messenger that reduces blood flow

去甲肾上腺素是减少血液

to the vessels in your nasal passages.

流向鼻腔血管的化学信使。

This frees air and fluid so that you can breathe more easily.

这让空气和液体可以自由流动， 让你呼吸更顺畅。

Cough suppressants aim to quell those torturous coughs.

止咳药旨在缓解那些折磨人的咳嗽。

Dextromethorphan, one of the most common suppressants,

右美沙芬是其中一种最常见的止咳药，

addresses the head of the command chain,

它可以控制指挥链的头儿，

moderating brain regions responsible for coughing.

稳定引起咳嗽的大脑区域。

While it’s not fully understood how this ingredient manages to quiet coughs,

虽然还不完全了解 这种成分是如何止咳的，

we know it interacts with receptors that neurons use to communicate.

但我们知道它会与 神经元用来通信的受体相互作用。

Drugs like ketamine and PCP engage similar receptors,

氯胺酮和 PCP 等药物 会作用于类似的受体，

which is why it’s important to take dextromethorphan as directed,

这就是为什么按指示服用 右美沙芬很重要的原因，

as high doses are notorious for causing hallucinatory effects.

众所周知，高剂量会致幻。

But not all coughing is bad when you have a cold—

但感冒的时候， 并非所有咳嗽都是不好的——

expelling mucus can help clear out infectious debris

排出粘液可以帮助清除传染性碎片

and ease uncomfortable congestion.

并缓解难受的充血。

By lubricating airways, our third class of ingredients, expectorants,

通过润滑呼吸道， 我们的第三类成分，祛痰剂，

aim to help improve coughing rather than eliminate it.

旨在帮助改善咳嗽而不是消除咳嗽。

Guaifenesin, the most common expectorant,

愈创甘油醚， 最常见的祛痰剂，

is thought to hydrate mucus by upping fluid secretions in the respiratory tract,

它被认为是通过增加呼吸道的 液体分泌来水化粘液，

making it less sticky and easier to clear out.

使粘液的粘度更低，更易清除。

Finally, we have antihistamines.

最后，我们还有抗组胺药。

As advertised, these inhibit the effects of histamine,

正如宣传的那样， 它们会抑制组胺的作用，

the chemical messenger behind allergy symptoms.

组胺是过敏症状背后的化学信使。

While histamines aren't involved producing cold symptoms,

虽然组胺不产生感冒症状，

studies suggest many antihistamines can still help dry a runny nose.

但研究表明，许多抗组胺药 仍然可以帮助止涕。

Benadryl, for example, contains diphenhydramine,

例如，Benadryl， 含苯海拉明，

which blocks both the effects of histamine and a neurotransmitter

可以阻断组胺和一种神经递质的作用，

which regulates the flow of mucus in our airways.

这种神经递质调节气道中粘液的流动。

Unfortunately histamines also regulate wakefulness in the brain,

不幸的是，组胺还调节 大脑的清醒程度，

so many of these drugs can make you drowsy.

因此其中许多药物会让你昏昏欲睡。

In this fight against cold symptoms, there’s still a lot we don’t know.

在这场与感冒症状的对抗中， 还有很多我们不知道的。

Since these ingredients don’t attack the viruses themselves,

因为这些成分不攻击病毒本身，

it’s unclear if any speed up your recovery.

所以不清楚它们是否会加快康复。

Further, many were first introduced to the market decades ago,

此外，许多药品是 几十年前首次引入市场的，

when studies were less rigorous.

当时的研究不那么缜密。

So, scientists continue to reevaluate how well each ingredient relieves symptoms.

因此，科学家们不停地重新评估 每种成分缓解症状的效果。

Similar questions remain around holistic remedies.

整体疗法仍然存在类似的问题。

Many people use zinc, but research on its effectiveness is inconclusive.

许多人使用锌， 但对其效果的研究尚无定论。

And while vitamin C has many benefits,

虽然维生素 C 有很多好处，

the value of taking large doses to fight a cold is likely overhyped.

但大剂量服用抗感冒的好处 可能被夸大了。

Yet studies suggest that honey can improve cough

不过研究表明蜂蜜可以改善咳嗽，

and may even shorten your illness by a day or two.

甚至可以将病程缩短一两天。

Who knows what the future of cold treatment will look like.

谁知道感冒治疗未来会是什么样子。

Until then, better understanding these products can help you choose

在那之前，更好地了解这些药品 可以帮助你选择

the right ones for your symptoms—

对症的药——

and know which remedies can best reduce the sting of a nasty cold.

知道哪种药最能减轻感冒带来的痛苦。