How to treat a cold: budget, that really help
Educational Program Health / / December 19, 2019
Cold - is not a diagnosis. It is a common household name for diseases that attack us mainly in the winter and fall, when it's cold outside.
Recognized by cold runny nose, nose, sore throat, cough, headache, and weakness. Sometimes the temperature rises.
Where does the common cold
Cold is not cold as one might think based on its name. Common cold - a viral infection that in the cards abbreviated SARS.
Around us there are plenty of viruses that cause similar symptoms. Viruses propagate through air or touchCommon cold in places where going to a lot of people: in transport, offices, schools. When germs enter the body, our immune system responds to the attack and makes antibodies - protective proteins that kill the virus. It takes a few days, from three to ten, and then the immune system destroy microbes.
Viruses spread in the cold season, and it is not known why this happens. There is a theory that, at low temperatures, our immune system weaker and less reflects the attack of virusesCan Being Cold Really Make You Sick?
. This means that in the cold fault is still not forgotten hat, and unavailability of the body to fight germs.By the way, the flu, too, belongs to the most "common cold" of SARS, but it is far more complex and dangerous virus. How to deal with it, already Layfhaker I wrote.
How to treat a cold
Cold actually goes away in about a week, when the antibodies appear. But we can help the body more easily transfer disease.
Stay home and rest
Of course, we are very busy and can not afford to relax because of the cold. But the body is also very busy: he was overwhelmed with the fight against viruses. And it is more important than a deadline.
Bed rest - just what you need if you feel unwell.
In addition, respiratory viruses (those that affect the respiratory system) are highly contagious. If you have the strength to go to work or to study, even sick, think that you can transmit the virus weakened man. And it is not easy to cope with a cold.
Drink plenty of fluids
This is not advice from the series "drink eight glasses a day." Liquid really need a cold. Stewed fruit or warm tea helps to cope with unpleasant symptoms. In the day to drink 3-5 cups more than when you are healthy.
When the body enough fluids, all mucous (which are most affected by the actions of viruses) is easier to operate. When a person is sick, and a lot of drinking, he easily comes out phlegm from the lungs and mucus from the nose, which means that the virus particles are not retained in the body.
At a fever the body loses a lot of moisture, so the heat is also an occasion to drink a cup of tea.
The tea can add decoctions of herbs: chamomile, lime, sage. They help alleviate cold symptoms and even bring some variety to the tea menu.
Use nasal drops
Nasal drops are different, because a runny nose is different.
- Drops of salt water. The saline solution 0.9% - a good means for moistening the mucous. It will gently wash the nose and remove mucus. Some manufacturers offer a sea-water, but in general you can use a normal saline solution, which is sold in a pharmacy: it is cheaper. Salt water, you can cook at home. To do this, a teaspoon of salt to be dissolved in one liter of water. Bury such water can often every half hour. Then you will really feel the power of simple means.
- oil drops. Help, when the nose is not incorporated. They moisturize the mucosa and facilitate breathing.
- vasoconstrictor drops. They clean the nasal edema, in which it is impossible to breathe. These drops should be used with caution: do not use them for more than five days, so as not to cause addiction, not exceed the dosage specified in the instructions, so as not to provoke poisoning active substance (this is especially important for kids).
help your throat
Sore throat is best helps soft therapy: warm tea in small sips, warm gargle, lozenges for resorption.
Gargle better that you enjoy. For example, the same decoction of herbs: chamomile or calendula.
Do not force yourself to do elixirs of iodine, soda or aloe kerosene.
rinsing task - to relieve pain and swallowing, not destroy all life. The virus still can not be washed in this way.
use painkillers
When a split head, do not force yourself to suffer and receive funds on the basis of ibuprofen or paracetamol.
Allow the temperature
shoot down temperature above 38,5 ° C. Until this figure is better not to fight the fever, because she needed to destroy viruses. Of course, if you feel bad, it is better to help themselves analgesic and antipyretic agents.
Ventilate the room and walk
Draft and fresh air from the vents do not cause deterioration. On the contrary, they will help. Airing - a way to clear the air in the room by microorganisms, the most simple and accessible method of disinfection.
Quiet walks in the fresh air also help you feel better, just do not walk in the shopping center and in the park or even the mall, where there are so many people.
Of course, walking - it means the case where you feel more or less normal or already recovering.
How not to treat a cold
It turns out that the common cold is held by itself and it is not necessary to treat it. But it is difficult to accept, as soon as possible want to do something and somehow affect the body - not to sit idly by as? But that is exactly what needs to be done. For colds and maintenance mode - this is the treatment, do not underestimate their importance.
When the hands reach for the medicine cabinet, remember, what not to do:
- drink antibiotics. Antibiotics are effective only on bacteria and kill viruses. Drink antibiotics without evidence is dangerous: it is possible to collect a bunch of side effects and raise yourself on superbugs that will not respond to treatment. Layfhaker already wrote about it detail.
- Buy a pharmacy antiviral agents and immunomodulators. They have no proven efficacy, 100% work only for the devastation of purses. The same applies to homeopathy.
- Put mustard and soar legs. The fact that so fond of her grandmother and parents, too dangerous: high risk of burns from hot water or mustard. These procedures do not destroy viruses. Secretly I tell you that in medical colleges they run under the theme "Distracting procedures" that the patient felt the care and thought less about the disease.
- Drink vitamins handfuls. Especially vitamin C. Once we thought that it helps with colds. This is not true5 Tips: Natural Products for the Flu and Colds: What Does the Science Say?But old beliefs live long.
The common cold is dangerous
For more or less healthy human cold is not dangerous. But if you make fun of himself and does not give the body to recover, it can lead to complications. For example, a viral infection bacterial join, which should be treated for a long time, or will go to a cold pneumonia. In addition, the infection can become chronic, meaning it will always come back.
So any cold - a reason to take yourself and give yourself time to recover.
When to Seek Help
more serious disease may be lurking behind the mask of a cold. Be sure to seek medical attention if:
- Symptoms persist for three weeks.
- Some symptoms become very strong or causes pain.
- It became difficult to breathe.
- There was a pain in the chest.
See also:
- How to cure colds per day: expert advice →
- Why do men suffer colds harder than women →
- Habits, because of which we are ill colds →