First of all: Know the difference between bacteria and virus.
Bacteria (and many types of fungi) love wet, warm, dark places. Some of them stink (anerobic), like your stool. And yes, football players, movie stars, and NBA players' poop still stinks all the same. Then there are the bacteria that don't stink but get gobbled up by your immune system (white blood cells) then die. The result is whitish gunk or pus. Next time you pop a zit, remember this.
Viruses are different. They infect your cells, irritate the heck out of your cells especially the ones in your nose (since this is the most common rout of infection). Your body secrets a bunch of clear mucus (rhinorrhea) and fevers can bound. Your whole body takes a hit though and you feel like you were hit by a ton of bricks. The good part, it only lasts about 5 to 7 days. The bad part is you can get so run down that a bacterial infection can arise due to wet, warm dark place, and a compromised immune system.
Second of all: They don't work
The companies will fund research to prove or disprove whether their product works or not. Can you guess how accurate these "funded research" projects are? Yeah, tell that lab rat with wife and kids that if he doesn't make it "look good", he'll be out on the street with closed doors for future work anywhere he goes. However, recently unbiased research has determined that Zicam or other zinc nasal gels don't shorten or stop the cold (virus).
Thirdly: You could lose your smell
In 2009 and now reported this year, reports of settled lawsuits have arisen due to people losing their smell from these products. Can you lose your smell from viruses? Oh yes! But do you want to complicate things with taking a "homeopathic medicine" that is thought to cause anosmia while trying to combat a virus which has the chance of causing the same side affect? You decide.
Fourth-ly: FDA can not legally do anything against Zicam
The FDA can only regulate homeopathic medications for "serious illnesses". So, the common cold and it's remedies get kicked to the curb. Caveat emptor!
In summary, my advice is to load up on your tylenol, ibuprofen, favorite non alcoholic beverage. Make a blockbuster run and take a week to recover. Unless you are a mother of 4 young children. You can't afford to be sick, so just don't get sick. :)
