Its that point of year again! Catching a cold can make you feel quite unwell for a few days, but isn't as severe an illness as it can seem to be to you while you are in the middle of it.
The old saying "It takes three days to develop a cold, 3 days to have it, as well as three days for this to go away," is fairly accurate, so if your cold has survived longer than close to nine days its time to ask your healthcare advisor for assist as it may not be a chilly at all.
Flu, however, can be a serious illness, particularly if you are very young, in old age or suffer from respiratory complaints already. There are quite a few different flu viruses, and each behaves differently, what exactly do you do to avoid getting a cold or flu virus, and what can you caused by relieve the symptoms if you are unlucky enough to get it?
First - all about Colds.
Colds are contagious virus-like respiratory infections that cause inflammation in the linings of the nose and throat. Because a virus leads to them, taking antibiotics will not help, but there are many natural remedies that may help you cope. The symptoms of the most popular cold are familiar in order to everyone and include: -- nasal congestion, sneezing, coughing, runny nose, watering eyes, a stuffy head, headache, minor muscle aches and pains, fatigue and a sore throat.
What can cause colds?
There are more than 200 different strains of the cold virus. Most adults develop immunity to the majority of all of them over time. The symptoms are not caused by the virus itself, but because of your body's defence systems working to rid you of the virus.
Colds are easily spread by direct?and indirect contact with a cold sufferer, or via the atmosphere from the sneezing or coughing of someone who currently has a cold. It isn't exposure to cold, wet winter weather that causes common colds, but a cut in your body's immunity due to stress, overwork etc. It can also be thought that indoor (central) heating and dried out air may dry out your nasal passages and make them more hospitable to cold viruses. (Consider using a humidifier.)
Cold Avoidance
Maintaining a strong defense mechanisms by managing stress and living a healthy life style is the long-term answer. Practitioners of Chinese Medicine and Qigong would also recommend that you maintain your essential life force power (qi/chi) by practicing Tai Chi, Chi Kung or using energy for self healing (as in Reiki). When a person practice these power exercises you lift up your energy vibrations to a level that will guard you against external pathogenic factors (germs and infections). Also, limit your own exposure to the chilly virus by washing your hands often, preventing people with colds, steer clear of sharing towels as well as phones, and try not to touch your face along with unwashed hands.
Natural Cold Treatments
Dietary supplements can help you recover faster as well as reduce a number of your symptoms. Ascorbic acid, the most popular choice, doesn't actually prevent common colds, but will help boost your immune system's reaction to the viruses and help shorten its duration.
Vitamin A taken in high doses (Fifty,000 IU twice a day) at the first signs of a cold, can help fight the virus. Do not continue taking such high dosages for more than five days. And if you're pregnant or planning for a pregnancy do not surpass 5,000 IU of vitamin A per day.
Ginger is the favourite Ayurvedic cold remedy. Combine equal levels of ginger, cinnamon and lemongrass, steep in a cup of hot water for around 10 minutes and then add honey to taste. Or replace the lemongrass with a pinch of cardamom.
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The herb echinacea is an immune booster. This natural antiviral plant should not be taken in excess of two weeks at a time. The herb Goldenseal can be taken along with echinacea and works well to reduce cold symptoms.
Zinc lozenges may also help speed recuperation and may relieve aching throats. (Look for lozenges containing zinc oxide gluconate, glycinate and ascorbate).
To soothe a sore throat try a?gargle with warm, salty water several times a day, and drinking hot fluids, including tea as well as chicken soup, is actually soothing. If you can why not have a rest in bed if you feel bad.
When to call the doctor
Babies and the elderly might be at risk of developing pneumonia. In the event that after a few days, the actual cold suddenly takes a turn for the worse, and you develop heart problems, shortness of breath, a productive cough, and a high fever then call a doctor.
If you have bronchial asthma, bronchitis, or emphysema, be ready to call your doctor if you seem to be getting worse.
What to do about Flu (Influenza)
Flu is a contagious viral infection. A bad cold is very just like a mild flu, however a more severe situation of flu affects the whole body, with fever between 101锟斤拷F in order to 103锟斤拷F and chills, pounding head aches, joint and muscle pain, cough, dry or burning eyes, sore throat and exhaustion.
The incubation period for flu is generally 3 or 4 days after contact with the virus. Although flu generally lasts for less than Ten days, fatigue and lack of appetite may continue for weeks later on.
Just as with colds, the actual symptoms of flu are caused by the body trying to protect against the virus. And again, as with colds, there isn't any actual cure, although rest and some herbs and supplements can help make the symptoms much more bearable and support the body's fight against the virus.
People at finest risk of developing complications with flu are the elderly, people suffering from chronic illness (for example heart or lung disease) and anyone whose immune system is stressed out, such as AIDS sufferers, or recent radiation treatment patients.
What are the reasons for Flu?
Outbreaks associated with flu are caused by mutating strains of three basic types of influenza viruses and often occur as an epidemic. The infections are caught and passed on in the same way as cold viruses.?
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Type A viruses will be the most potent and?are generally responsible for epidemics. The actual B type infections are less severe, and type C viruses are responsible for the weakest cases of the flu that are most like a common cold.
Flu Avoidance
For people most at risk of complications the flu vaccine is an option. Zanamivir (Relenza), the industry nasal spray, and oseltamivir (Tamiflu) are both anti-viral drugs that may be prescribed, but you need to take them early in the course of the illness for them to work.
Supplements that can help reduce flu symptoms.
Vitamin A may help shorten the duration of the flu. Take as recommended for common colds (see above).
Drawn in high doses (Two,000 mg three times a day, for five days), vitamin C may also help.
Think about the herb echinacea to boost your immune system. Do not take echinacea in excess of two weeks without a split though.
Also try the actual homeopathic remedy called Oscilloccocinum.
Acupuncture can help some people to avoid catching flu, or to avoid the most detrimental of the symptoms as well as shorten the length of the illness if you do get it.
Organic self care remedies with regard to Flu.
Stay in mattress, resting or sleeping, until your heat returns to normal.
Consuming plenty of warm fluids. Take water from room temperature as well as choose fruit/vegetable juices, or vegetable, chicken, or clear beef sauces.
As with colds, to ease a sore throat gargle with warm, salty drinking water and suck zinc lozenges.
If you have a dried out, non-productive cough use a warm air humidifier in the room and add eucalyptus oil or Olbas Essential oil to an oil burner.
And lastly - an over-all herbal remedy for common colds and flu.
Grind a medium sized garlic herb and half a teaspoon of fresh ginger, squeeze the juice of a lemon. Mix together with a teaspoon associated with honey in a cup of warm water and drink up to three mugs a day.
For most people using a cold, or even flu virus, is unpleasant but passes fairly quickly, and also the positive side is you are unlikely to catch that same virus again for quite some time after you have had it, because your defense mechanisms has developed antibodies against this. So pamper yourself and rest, you will most probably soon be superior again.
Article Source: articlemotron . org
