The best protection against colds is timely prevention, but sometimes a cold still overcomes us. The fact is that microorganisms and viruses can live on untreated surfaces for up to 18 hours (until the virus finds its host). Viruses and bacteria penetrate the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose and eyes, spreading through the air with coughing, sneezing and even simple conversation. You may not be able to completely prevent colds (SARS), but there are effective ways to relieve symptoms. Healthy Maine Partnerships gives advice on how to speed up recovery (this also includes frequent hand washing).
1. Take urgent action
If your throat starts to hurt, rinse it with salted water. Gargling with salt water will help reduce inflammation and flush out mucus and phlegm. To dilute salt in water, add 2.5 g of salt (1/2 teaspoon) to a glass of warm water, then gargle with this solution for 30 seconds. After rinsing, spit out the water, do not swallow anything. Repeat this procedure throughout the day as soon as your throat starts to ache again.
Take a hot shower to relieve nasal congestion. A feeling of stuffiness and heaviness in the nose greatly aggravates the course of a cold. To relieve congestion, get in a hot shower and stand there for a while – steam will help ease the heaviness.
Use a saline nasal spray if you have a runny nose. Salt sprays are prepared on the basis of salt water and are intended to be sprayed into the nasal cavity in the treatment of a cold. Use a saline nasal spray to prevent and treat runny nose and congestion. You will feel immediately relieved. Continue using the nasal spray every day until you feel better.
To maintain optimal humidity, turn on the humidifier. Moisture in the air helps to loosen mucus and mucus to help prevent stuffiness and heaviness. Place a humidifier in your bedroom to keep the air moist while you sleep. Also, put a humidifier in other rooms where you spend a lot of time.
2. Help your body fight off colds as soon as possible
Drink 8 glasses of water a day to keep your body hydrated. Dehydration will worsen your cold, so it’s important to drink 8 glasses of water every day. Adequate fluid levels in the body also slow down the formation of snot and phlegm, so you will not feel as heavy. Avoid drinking alcohol, coffee, caffeinated and sugary drinks, as they can dehydrate the body.
Eat foods that boost your immune system. If your body doesn’t get the nutrients it needs, it will be more difficult for your body to fight off a cold. Consuming fruits and vegetables is one of the easiest ways to get the nutrients you need for your recovery. Try to eat a salad with a couple of servings of fruit a day. According to some studies, garlic and citrus fruits can help shorten the duration of the common cold by relieving symptoms.
Sleep for at least eight hours each night. When you are awake, your body is working hard to fight infection, so it is very important to give your body a good rest so that it can fight off the disease. Try to go to bed a little earlier than usual, if possible – take a nap during the day. The more you rest, the higher your chances of getting rid of a cold.
If possible, skip school or work. It can be difficult to ensure that you rest and drink enough water when you work or study. If you can, stay home and focus on your recovery so your condition doesn’t get worse.
3. Take medications and supplements
Take paracetamol (Tylenol) or other NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) if you have a sore throat, headache or high fever. Paracetamol belongs to the group of NSAIDs that have anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic effects, thereby reducing the symptoms of the common cold. Follow the dosage recommendations (in the annotation to the drug) and do not take a dosage that exceeds the daily rate
Try mucolytics or antihistamines to relieve coughs and remove phlegm. Over-the-counter antihistamines and mucolytics help relieve coughs and clear phlegm. Before use, be sure to read the annotation for the drug and do not mix several drugs at once, otherwise, you may accidentally exceed the recommended dosage.
To help your body fight off infection faster, take vitamin C or echinacea supplements. While this is still a controversial issue, studies have shown that vitamin C and echinacea supplements can help reduce the severity and duration of the common cold. Since these supplements are not harmful to the body, try them and see if they helped fight the cold.