How to Fight Off Cold and Flu
What Is Cold?
The common cold is a group of symptoms in the upper respiratory tract caused by a large number of different viruses. Although more than 200 viruses can cause the common cold, the perpetrator is usually the rhinovirus.Wet cough, nasal congestion, sore throat, sneezing, runny nose, light fever, light headache and throat tingling followed by cough in the fourth or fifth day are considered as common cold symptoms which tend to be improved within a week to 10 days.
What Is the Flu?
Influenza, or the flu, is a contagious acute respiratory illness caused by different types of influenza viruses. The most common type of flu is the “seasonal” flu caused by influenza A or B viruses and it occurs mainly during winter season.
Most people with flu recover in less than two weeks while they may experience high fever, headache and muscle aches, cough, sore throat, tiredness, chills and shivering, runny or stuffy nose, headache, and nausea or vomiting.
Do Medications Help to Treat Cold and Flu?
- For common cold there is not a specific medicine to treat it. However, over-the-counter medications can be effective to ease the discomfort caused by the symptoms of colds.
- For the flu there are antiviral medicines. But not every person with the flu needs an antiviral medicine and that’s the doctor’s call based on your condition and severity of the disease. Again over the counter medicines can help with the symptoms.
Cold and Flu Home Remedies
- Stay warm and rested
- Treat your stuffy nose with warm salt water
- Blow your nose often
- Drink plenty of fluids. Hot green, black, or herbal tea, flavored with lemon or honey, if desired
- Eat hot chicken soup
- Use a humidifier to moisten dry air
- Take a hot shower
- Gargle with hot salt water to ease a sore throat
- Place a hot compress on your forehead or nose to help with headache or sinus pain
How Your Body Fights Off Cold and Flu
All annoying symptoms you’re experiencing during a flu or cold are part of the natural healing process that proves your immune system is battling against illness. For instance, a fever is your body’s way of trying to kill viruses by creating a hotter-than-normal environment. Also, a fever’s hot environment makes germ-killing proteins in your blood circulate more quickly and effectively. Thus, if you endure a moderate fever for a day or two, you may actually get well faster. Coughing is another productive symptom which clears your breathing passages of thick mucus that can carry germs to your lungs and the rest of your body.
How to Protect Against Flu
The best way to protect against the flu is by having an annual vaccination. Although there is currently no vaccine against the common cold, there is a vaccine to prevent some cases of the flu. It can also help keep you from getting severly ill if you do get the flu. It works by exposing the immune system to the viruses. The body responds by building antibodies (the body’s defense system) against the flu. It also keeps your symptoms be mild if you do come down with it.
Dayonix Pharma/ January 13, 2019
The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health professional regarding any medical condition. While every care is taken to ensure the accuracy of the information presented in the blog and to describe best generally accepted current practices we cannot accept any liability for errors or omissions or for any consequences from application of the information given.