How To Fight the Common Cold

As each year passes by, the winter season brings on a slew of viruses, which makes it more and more difficult for people to avoid catching a cold. Just as winter turns the corner, the temperature drops, and the common cold decides to rear its ugly head bringing along runny noses, scratchy throats, and eye-watering sneezes.

Now, before you decide to stock up on the Puff’s tissues, the canned soups, or attempt to rip open that first box of cold medicine, what you should know is that the chance of getting the common cold will be higher or lower depending on the amount of time that you come into contact with someone that has already been infected and what measures you are willing to take to prevent from catching the common cold. Some of the most common ways for you to catch the common cold are being nearby when someone with a cold sneezes or coughs into the air, as virus particles may land on you or you may breathe them in. Another way to catch the cold, or any virus at that, is when someone that is already infected with the cold touches the surface of something like a doorknob or the surface of a table, and then you touch that same surface and touch your eyes, mouth, nose, or anywhere else around your face.

Prevention

The first way to fight against the common cold is prevention; by taking some simple steps, you will avoid catching the common cold or other viruses.

First, you should wash your hands frequently with anti-bacterial soap because this will help you kill germs that you may have come in contact with. Also, if you’re not able to get to a restroom and wash your hands, you can carry around a small bottle of hand sanitizer to use at your convenience.

Second, you should a eat healthy, balanced meal. By eating balanced meals, as well as large amounts of fruits and vegetables, you will boost your immune system.

Finally, you should have plenty of rest. If you are feeling weary and fatigued, it will reduce the resistance in your body and you will become more susceptible to catching the common cold because your immune system will be weaker.

Fighting a cold

If you have already come down with a common cold, though, there are several ways that you can help yourself recover quickly and feel better.

First, you should intake plenty of liquids like soup, water, juices, and sodas like ginger ale or sprite because it will assist in keeping your body well hydrated. If you have a fever, then drinking more fluids is necessary because during a fever, your body loses a lot of fluids. You need to replenish the fluids that you have lost, which will mean that you will be ingesting more fluids throughout the time that you have the cold. Also, avoid drinking any kind of dairy products because dairy will form mucus that will coat the throat, which will cause some difficulty in swallowing and coughing.

Second, take medicine to help your coughing, fever, and sneezing. If you can’t, or don’t want to, take over the counter medication, then try eating some hot and spicy foods. Why, you ask? Because hot, spicy foods cause the body to expel mucus; they work as natural decongestants.

Finally, you should use a vaporizer to keep the air you're breathing in moist. Dry air will cause the mucus to thicken and stick to the walls of the throat. By taking these measures, you will be able to fight the common cold!