Effects of mild upper respiratory tract illnesses and sucking peppermints on mood and performance

Background: The aetiology and pathogenesis of mild upper respiratory tract illnesses (MURTIS) are well known. These illnesses lead to malaise, which impairs performance and leads to a more negative mood. A specific mechanism that could underlie malaise, the role of sensory afferent stimulation, was examined in the present study by having volunteers suck peppermints. Methods: Eighty-one participants completed the study (duration 10 weeks), 17 developed MURTIS, and the others were retested as healthy controls. Results: The results confirmed that having a MURTI was associated with reduced alertness, slower reaction times and slower velocity of eye movements. Sucking a peppermint was associated with increased alertness in both those with MURTIS and those who remained healthy. There were no significant effects of sucking a peppermint on the performance tasks. Conclusion: The results confirm that MURTISlead to reduced alertness and impaired psychomotor speed. Sucking a peppermint increased alertness but did not remove the performance impairments.