The holidays are a season of giving, both in terms of gifts and cheer and in terms of viral infections. And while Christmas music has disappeared, the sounds of coughing, sneezing and blown noses have not. The common cold is a viral infection of a person’s upper respiratory tract. It’s usually harmless, although it may not feel that way because it can cause a person to continually cough while having a runny nose, watery eyes, congestion and a sore throat. But those symptoms can vary greatly due to the fact that more than 200 different viruses can cause a common cold, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Because hundreds of viruses can cause a cold, many adults catch a cold two to four times a year, while younger children can have the virus up to 10 times annually.
Most people have a cold for a week or two, which is because there is no cure. Antibiotics are of no use against cold viruses and over-the-counter cold preparations won’t cure a common cold or make it go away any sooner. However, there are several herbal remedies that can make a person feel better while struggling with the virus.
“We recommend people with colds take vitamin C and Echinacea,” Bill Pullos, a pharmacist at Boutte’s Thrift Village, said. “Vitamin C because people need to load up on their vitamins and Echinacea because it helps the immune system.”
Echinacea is considered to be an immune stimulant that appears to activate the body’s infection-fighting capacity. It may reduce symptoms such as headache, lethargy, cough and aching limbs. Vitamin C also helps immune systems, along with offering several other benefits, such as producing collagen and keeping gums healthy.
“People have success with those,” Pullos said. “That’s what I’d take if I had a cold.”
There are also several home remedies that help soothe cold symptoms.
It’s always important to drink lots of fluids. Water, juice, tea and warm soup are all good choices because they help replace fluids lost during mucus production or fever. A person with the cold should also avoid both alcohol and caffeine, which can cause dehydration, according to the Mayo Clinic.
And while it may seem like an old wife’s tale, chicken soup can be helpful when it comes to soothing a cold. Scientists say that the soup acts as an anti-inflammatory by inhibiting the movement of neutophils, which are immune system cells that help the body’s response to inflammation. Secondly, it temporarily speeds up the movement of mucus through the nose, helping to relieve congestion and limiting the time viruses are in contact with the nasal lining.
Those that have a sore throat should also gargle with warm salt water several times a day or drink warm lemon water with honey. Congestion can be relieved by saline nasal drops, which are safe and effective for even children.
Lastly, its also important to get a lot of rest. A person with a fever or a severe cough should stay home from work or school if it’s possible. Otherwise, try to get at least seven to nine hours of sleep each night, which keeps your body charged enough to successful fight off the disease.
Be the first to comment