The Common Cold - Treatment

The Common Cold

The common cold is a common annoyance to millions of people each year, particularly in the winter months. The cold, which can be caused by hundreds of different viruses, is an incredibly infectious respiratory infection that usually lasts about a week or so. Once you’ve become infected with the virus,it will take a couple days before symptoms start to appear. Once they do, be careful! the first three or four days of a cold are when you are contagious and most likely able to pass it on to other people. In most cases an over the counter medication is sufficient, but if you’re afraid it may be a bacterial infection consult your doctor. The symptoms of the common cold are as follows.

Symptoms

- A ‘sick’ ‘under the weather’ feeling

- Sneezing

- Head and chest congestion

- Runny nose

- Post-nasal drip

- Sore throat

- Stiff joints and muscle aches

- Headaches

- Sleepy, weary, worn out

- Chills

- Fever (usually small)

- Watery eyes

**If ANY of these symptoms are present along with some the ones above you may have Meningitis

- get emergency medical help IMMEDIATELY.

- Seizures

- Red blotches on skin, different from being flushed, look somewhat like wounds. (Septicemia)

- Pale blotchy skin (in young children)

Also seek professional advice in these cases:

- If an infant (under 3 months) is showing any of the symptoms

- If your throat is very sore, you have a high temperature and symptoms seem to    be getting worse

- If you’re having trouble breathing, or are wheezing

- If your temperature is very high- this may be a sign of pneumonia, get help immediately

- If you are pregnant or breastfeeding

- If the cold lasts for longer than 2 weeks and symptoms seem like they’re    getting worse

Treatment

Besides handy over the counter medications (Triaminic, vapor rubs etc), and lozenges (cough drops) for a sore throat there are many other things you can do to fight off a cold.

Vapor – By inhaling some vapor, you’ll loosen up some of the congestion, which will make it easier to breathe and will help to clear out your system. Heat up some water so that it’s steaming, and keep it near you so you can inhale the fumes. This may make it easier to fall asleep at night. You can also sit over the fumes, and by placing a towel over your head and the bowl you create a tent where the fumes are trapped. If the fumes are hot enough you’ll kill some of the germs off as well.

Foods - Fruits and vegetables are a must. Spicy foods may also help to clear out your system, as will garlic and onions. Avoid dairy products as they’ll lead to the formation of more mucus, and try to leave large amounts of egg, starch, and sugar out of your diet for a while as well. If you’re feeling nauseous avoid anything greasy. Try and eat nutritiously, it’ll help you get better faster and make you healthier so that you have a better chance of fighting off future colds.

Drink - Water, water, everywhere- that’s what you need to drink. Water helps you flush out your system, so it’s absolutely vital to drink when you’ve got a cold. Juices, especially citrus drinks, are also good for you. Hot tea, will make you feel better as well- it’s tasty and it has vapors which will help clear your nasal passages. Again avoid dairy. If you’re nauseous a small amount of a slightly sweet sodalike ginger ale- will help settle your stomach.

Other - If you like natural remedies, try some Echinacea at the first sign of symptoms. This will stop the infection from reaching it’s full potential and will therefore reduce the severity of the cold. Also avoid things like cigarettes during this time as they may aggravate your condition.

Prevention

It’s difficult to avoid the common cold- particularly during the cold season- but you can do many things to lessen your chances of contracting it.

- Keep yourself healthy. Good diet, exercise, avoid smoking and drinking

- Wash your hands often- germs can survive for a few hours without a host, so   anything you touch that someone who is sick has touched has potential to get     you sick.

- If you’re already sick cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze and cough, and keep your own hands clean. This will help stop the spreading of germs.