A cold is a general name for a complex of respiratory diseases of an inflammatory nature. However, they are not caused directly by hypothermia. Instead, it creates favourable conditions for the body's infection with a virus or bacteria.
Adults get colds from one to three times a year. However, because of the winter, a person can get sick much more often because of unfavorable weather. It is not a dangerous disease, but it can make it challenging to lead a whole life. Rarely can anyone afford to spend a week, or even more, on a cold? We offer an accessible guide to recovery in one day. The best solution is to stay home and read some helpful articles or enjoy games presented on Bollywood Casino app. But if you need to go outside in the winter, follow these rules.
First, let's get acquainted with the main symptoms of a cold.
Symptoms of a cold
The first signs of the disease may appear a couple of hours after infection and may not make themselves known for up to two days. Symptoms usually occur in this order:
Day 1. Sore throat caused by pharyngitis - inflammation of the pharyngeal mucosa.
Day 2-3. Runny nose, sneezing, and stuffiness caused by rhinitis - inflammation of the nasal mucosa.
Day 4-5. Cough, resulting from a fart in the throat, irritates the cough receptors. As the virus progresses to the bronchi, coughing responds to increased secretion and is necessary to remove sputum.
Weakness and body aches and pains may follow the patient all the time or may be gone by the third day. These are common manifestations of the asthenic syndrome. It may also include photophobia, emotional depression, and heightened sensitivity to sounds and smells. These all indicate the increased strain to which the nervous system is subjected during the illness.
How can I distinguish colds from other illnesses?
Colds are unpleasant but relatively safe. However, the same symptoms can manifest in other, more serious, diseases. Therefore, you should know the following:
• A cold does not always have a fever. It never exceeds 39 degrees and falls after two days maximum. Otherwise, we are no longer talking about a cold but the flu.
• A sore throat does not always indicate a cold. However, if it persists for a long time, accompanied by an increase in lymph nodes and the appearance of pus on the tonsils, this points to tonsillitis. Antibacterial therapy is already required.
• Cough during an acute respiratory infection lasts no longer than two weeks. If it continues, pneumocystis, fungi, or mycoplasmas may have entered the body.
Preventing the common cold
You can catch a cold at any time of the year, but it is noticed that the flu virus is more active from fall to spring, and the peak of the disease is in the coldest period. Therefore, it is essential to follow the general rules of flu and cold prevention all year round:
• Avoid crowded places during the cold season.
• Observe "respiratory etiquette." If you are healthy, do not touch your nose, mouth, and eyes with your hands, and if you are sick, do not visit public places without medical masks, cough and sneeze into handkerchiefs, preferably disposable, and if not, into the bend of the elbow.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water.
• Try not to come in contact with a sick person. For example, if someone is in the house with a cold, isolate him by giving him his room and utensils.
• Take medications explicitly designed to prevent the infection of respiratory viruses.
Do not neglect the simple rules - be physically active, eat more fruits, rest, avoid stress and ask your doctor what medications you should take to reduce the risk of colds and flu. Then, following the recommendations of a specialist, you can support your immune system not only during the cold season but all year round.
General recommendations
Rarely do people see a doctor as soon as the first symptoms appear. For the first two or three days, you can lie down. But if, after four days, the feeling does not begin to improve or worsen, medical help is essential.
There are quick ways to treat colds at home, among which there are seven of the most effective:
• Full rest. Sleeping at least eight hours a day will help the body recover faster, activate internal reserves and work more actively with the immune system, which will help eliminate colds.
• Proper nutrition. It is necessary to prefer healthy food because the body needs a balanced diet to recover faster. Preference should be given to vegetables and fruits. In addition, it is desirable to eat often and in small portions.
• Giving up smoking. The period of colds is prolonged by smoking because tobacco irritates the respiratory system, thus increasing the risk of lung infections. Therefore, it is necessary to stop smoking, at least for the duration of the illness.
• Plenty of fluids. During a cold, it is worth drinking as much liquid as possible (water or herbal tea), which reduces the sore throat, prevents dehydration of the body, reduces the risk of ear and lung infections, and helps reduce the amount of nasal mucus.
• Saline solutions. Treating a cold at home helps reduce the body temperature and sore throat by gargling with salt water, which is simple to prepare: you need to dilute half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of water. Gargling is recommended every two hours. Salt nasal sprays can also help relieve nasal congestion (this solution prevents tissue damage and clears the sinuses).
• Humidifying the air. Using a humidifier can help get rid of sinus irritation. And to avoid inhaling bacteria and fungus, be sure to clean the humidifier before using it.
• Warm baths. A warm bath can alleviate the mild pain typical of a cold.
Treating colds with folk remedies won't help you eliminate the infection immediately, but some can help ease your symptoms and manage them.
Some of the most influential and common home remedies for colds include:
• Vitamin C. Taking vitamin C before and after cold symptoms can shorten their duration. Taking vitamin C can be helpful for people at high risk of catching colds to boost immunity.
• Echinacea. Echinacea can also be effective in shortening the duration of a cold.
• Zinc. Zinc lozenges or syrup shorten the duration of a cold by about one day, especially if taken within 24 to 48 hours of the first signs and symptoms.
Before using any of the above remedies, we recommend consulting your doctor to avoid unpleasant side effects.
