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There's a radio ad currently on the air in which a woman boasts that she doesn't stay home when she's sick, she won't wear her pyjamas all day, suffer the indignity of headaches and stuffy sinuses, or 'waste her coworkers' time'... because she takes cold medication! The attitude that the ad promotes makes my skin crawl: it implies that catching a cold means you're lazy, going to work sick is heroic, and taking cold medications means that you're not infectious.

Knowing when to stay home with a cold isn't rocket science, but it shouldn't be dictated to you by advertisements. If you have a bad cold and feel achy, feverish, and sneezy, it's okay to let your body rest and heal rather than dragging yourself into the office to sit in front of a computer to try to problem solve. Your co-workers will thank you for declining to share your germs. So too will your customers, especially if you work in the service industry, have to meet with people face to face, or have a job that requires a high level of concentration that would be difficult to maintain when you're ill.

That being said, not every sniffle should keep you home. Unless you've got a fever, muscle aches (that aren't because you slept funny), or have a very sore throat or painful sinuses, you can probably go into work and accomplish something in your day - just remember to wash your hands (frequently) so as not to share your sickness. If you're anything like me, when you have a cold you feel your absolute worst when you first get up in the morning, so if you're unsure whether or not you're too sick to go in, get up, have a shower, get dressed, and have your breakfast before making any decisions.

The only way to get over a cold is to rest, and while a mild cold will only last two or three days a bad cold can last for a week. Colds are caused by a virus and therefore cannot be cured by antibiotics, so there is no reason to go see a doctor unless your symptoms last more than 10 days and are getting worse rather than getting better, you have a fever of 102F (adults) or 103F (children) that you just can't shake, you have trouble breathing, feel faint, or have chest pain.

Drink plenty of fluids (hot tea and chicken noodle soup are especially nice), and a steamy hot shower can help loosen plugged sinuses and ease achy muscles. Sleep lots: sleep lets your body concentrate on fighting the virus. Sore throats can be eased by gargling salt water, and avoid alcohol and smoke, which will aggravate your symptoms.

If you are debating whether or not to call in sick with a cold, do your best to evaluate your condition honestly. Don't try to be a 'hero' like the woman in the radio ad since you'll just spread the virus make everyone else sick too, but you don't need to stay home if you have a mild cold, either - just remember to wash your hands!

Learn more about this author, Eva Pronovost.
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