© 2021
In touch with the world ... at home on the High Plains
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Fighting Invisible Danger

wikipedia.org

From the time we’re little, our parents teach us to watch out for muggers, pickpockets, and other lurkers. What is more difficult is protecting ourselves from invisible germs we pick up either in public or at home where we think we can let down our guard. Somehow, somewhere, an unseen virus targeted my immune system the first week of school. I apparently didn’t wash my hands nearly enough.

Behaving as these insidious invaders do, the activated bug began tickling the back of my throat after I’d lugged it around unknowingly for 24 hours or so. I first assumed that scratchy sensation was allergies for about an hour; after all, it is late summer and golden rod is blooming. After the first sixty minutes of itching and burning delicate tissue, these interlopers expanded their territory into my nasal and eye regions. At that point, I knew I was in for days of sniffling, dripping, snorting, and coughing. That didn’t include the bonus headache that accompanied the other disgusting symptoms.

Once I realized what I was dealing with, I marshalled my resources. I pumped vitamin C, zinc, and fluids. I bought Viva paper towels because they’re soft enough to use on an over-wiped nose, and they’re strong enough to deal with serious achoos. After decades of dealing with several such viruses a year, I’ve learned it’s best to have cushy yet heavy-duty tissue at hand. I dug out the remainder of last year’s cold medicine and then stopped by the store to pick up fresh supplies to manage symptoms. I found menthol rub and white cotton socks for my feet, just in case this granny cure helps. As a final detail, I put a saucepan of water on the stove to boil so I could find relief breathing in rising steam.

According to statistics, a little over 200 cold viruses exist. It’s my understanding that once you’ve had one, you’re immune to that particular genetic derivative. Interestingly, most humans catch two to three colds a year so with each one you get, you build immunity. As a result, younger folks catch them more often than their elders because they haven’t built up as much resistance.

I did the math using these figures and calculated that since I’m nearly 60 and a schoolteacher with maximum exposure, I’ve had at least the national average of viral encounters, which means I’ve survived a minimum of 176 of these respiratory inconveniences. Surely, that means that I’m nearly done catching colds. The fact I didn’t have one last year supported my theory. However, the infection visiting me now tells me I have a few left to dodge.

I probably didn’t factor in viral mutations. In which case, I might as well maintain my emergency cold supplies for the rest of my life. Or … perhaps I should adopt the recommendation of another teacher and eat a half a lemon sprinkled with cayenne pepper every morning. I’m considering the benefits of a year of forcing down that combo over a week or two of sneezing and hacking. 

What I do know is that these invisible threats are much harder to manage than keeping an eye out for stranger danger. It’s difficult to know when you’ve washed your hands enough to keep unseen cold germs in the dunk tank.