COLDS: Fight against the “Cold” War

Headache, stuffy nose, cough, fever, itchy eyes, sore throat and muscle aches are common signs that you are going to have colds. For some people, colds can occur through the changing of weather.Colds or also known as the upper respiratory infections are caused by different viruses, the virus penetrates the mucous layer of the nose and throat and attaches themselves to the cells allowing viral genetic material to enter cells and for a short period of time, the viruses will produce many new viruses.The symptoms you experience as a cold are actually the body’s natural immune response. In fact, by the time you’re coming down with a cold, you’ve likely already had it for a day and a half. For some, fighting colds may take for more than 3 days or even more.
So here is simple self-care techniques that you can follow which can help you feel more comfortable and could be speed healing.

Drink plenty of fluids
Colds can make you somewhat dehydrated. Drinking water or juices that are rich in vitamin C can keep the mucus thin. And for a good outcome, you must drink at least 8 oz. of fluid every two hours.

Have some soup
One of the beneficial hot fluids you can consume when you have a cold is a soup.Although it is not really clear why soups help clear nasal passages, it was proven by many people who are having soups when they have colds.

Rest
Extra rest helps. Staying away from the work site may be a good idea from a prevention standpoint, too. If you do decide to stay home, forgo those chores and take it easy, read a good book or take a nap. Skip your normal exercise routine when you’ve got a cold. In fact, if you’re feeling pretty bad, you should just head for bed.

Stay warm
If you have colds, it’s better for you to stay indoors and stay warm when you have a cold. It may make you feel more comfortable, especially if you have fever.

Use a salt water wash
The inflammation and swelling in the nose caused by molecules called lymphokines or cytokines, which are made by the lymphocytes. If we can wash out those cytokines, it reduces swelling and fluid production. Filling a clean nasal-spray bottle with dilute water (one level teaspoon salt to one quart water) and spraying each nostril three or four times. Repeat 5 to 6 times per day.

Gargle
Gargling with warm salt water (a quarter teaspoon salt in four ounces warm water) every one 1 to 2 hours can soothe your sore throat. Salt water is an astringent that is very soothing to the inflamed tissues and it tends to loosen mucus.

Consider Vitamin C
Vitamin C may boost the body’s immune system; the use of this vitamin in treating colds is still controversial. Some physician don’t recommend vitamin C as a cold remedy, but taking vitamin C daily can lessen the severity of cold symptoms.
If you do decide to try boosting your vitamin C intake during a cold, don’t overdo it while vitamin C has been found to be relatively safe. However there are some people find vitamin C causes diarrheas. Perhaps the safest way to get more vitamin C is to choose vitamin C-rich foods more often. For instance, since you’ll need to increase your fluid intake while you have a cold, fill some of that requirement with juices.

Vaporize it
The steam from a vaporizer can loosen mucus, especially if the sputum is thick. It may also raise the humidity in the immediate area slightly, which may make you feel more comfortable.

Stop smoking
Smokers have colds longer in duration than nonsmokers. If you chronically irritate the bronchial tubes while you have a cold, you’re more likely to develop a complication like pneumonia.In addition to irritating the throat and bronchial tubes, smoking has been shown to depress the immune system. Since you have to depend on your own immune system rather than medicine to cure a cold, you’ll want it to be in the best condition possible to wage the cold war.

Stay away from “HOT TODDIES”
While a hot alcoholic beverage might sound good when you’re feeling achy and stuffy. If you want to minimize discomfort, stay away from alcohol.

Quote Of the Day:
If you give up, so does your immune system. Self-confidence help rev up the immune system or at least keep it from collapsing while it fights your cold.

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Conclusion:
While most colds can be effectively treated at home, you should call your doctor if:
You have a headache and stiff neck with no other cold symptoms.
You have a headache or sore throat with no other cold symptoms.
You have cold symptoms and significant pain across your nose and face that doesn’t go away.
You have a high fever, you’ve taken aspirin and the fever isn’t going down.
Your cold symptoms seem to be going away, but you suddenly develop a fever.
We wish you a happy health.

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