How to fight a cold?

 Colds are caused by infections in the nose, throat, or both. Almost always, a virus is to blame. Most colds go away on their own, but you can do things to make the symptoms less bad.

 Symptoms

 When you have a cold, it is common to feel tired and hungover. It is also common for you to have one or more of the following symptoms: runny nose or nasal congestion sore throat cough

 A cold can also cause a fever , but it is usually not high. It is more common for children to get a fever with a cold than for adults. It often only takes a few days from being infected until you notice the first symptoms of a cold.

 It is common for you to become snotty. In the beginning, the string is water-thin and then gets thicker. You may get a sore throat and sometimes the mucous membranes in the trachea become irritated. Then you get a cough. After a while, more mucus usually forms.

 Sometimes the cold can cause symptoms from the eyes and ears. The eyes may become watery and sometimes a bit persistent. You may also experience ringing in the ears, and hearing may be impaired. Sometimes you may also get a ringing in the ear or hear a tone. The symptoms usually last for a few days. The symptoms you get differ from person to person. You usually feel well again after one to two weeks.

 The cough may remain for a while after the cold. This is because the mucous membranes are still sensitive. It has usually passed after two to four weeks.

 Stay home if you feel sick

 If you feel sick, you should stay home. It's to keep from making other people sick. This is true for adults and kids alike. When you have a fever, you should take it easy until it goes away. Don't go anywhere until you feel better. After being sick, you might have a little runny nose or a slight cough for a while.

 What can I do myself?

There are things you can do on your own to make a cold less painful. If you have a cold, you may need to rest, but that doesn't mean you need to lie down. Sometimes it's good to get up and go. But if you have an infection in your body, you shouldn't do sports or exercise.

Nasal congestion and runny nose

 First of all, try nasal drops or nasal sprays containing saline solution if your nose is very congested. You can buy them without a prescription at a pharmacy.

You can also make your own saline solution by mixing a seasoning measure of salt in one deciliter of water. The water does not need to be boiled, but it may feel better if the solution is lukewarm when you use it. To get the saline solution into the nose, you can use a special nasal rinse or a small plastic syringe that can be bought at pharmacies.

 You can use nasal spray for a limited time

 You can try decongestant nasal sprays if saline does not help. You can buy it without a prescription at a pharmacy. Use the nasal spray according to the instructions on the package and for a maximum of ten days. Long-term use of nasal sprays can cause nasal congestion that is difficult to get rid of.

 Sore throat

Hot drinks such as tea can feel soothing if you have  a sore throat . Ice cream and yogurt can also feel good. Try out what works best for you.

Sometimes it feels better to have something to suck on. You can try throat lozenges available in grocery stores and pharmacies. They do not reduce the swelling in the throat, but it can feel soothing. The best thing for the teeth is to use sugar-free tablets.

 There are several different types of lozenges and throat sprays that relieve sore throats in different ways. Ask at a pharmacy what can possibly relieve your symptoms.

 Cough

Try drinking more than usual if you have problems with coughing . Drink makes mucus less sticky and easier to cough up. Avoid being in smoky environments. The smoke irritates the airways and often makes the cough worse. If you smoke yourself, there are many benefits to quitting smoking .

 Doubtful if over-the-counter cough medicines help

 There is no research that shows that over-the-counter cough medicines have any clear effect. But some people think they help. Drinking a lot is usually as effective as expectorant drugs.

 Fever

When you have a cold, you may have a fever that lasts for a few days. It doesn't necessarily mean you have a more serious illness. If you have a fever, you should drink more than usual. This makes the body lose more fluid. When you have a cold, you usually don't need to treat a fever. Antipyretic drugs can help if you have trouble sleeping or body aches because of a fever.

 Sleep with the head elevated

Try to lie with your head high in bed. It can help if you have a cough and nasal congestion that makes it difficult to sleep. The mucous membranes become less swollen. The lungs also work better in an upright position. You can make a bed with some extra pillows. Place the pillows under the mattress and it will feel more comfortable for the back. It can also feel nice to be cool in the room where you sleep

 

Home remedies

There are many home remedies that are claimed to help with a cold. Garlic or large amounts of vitamin C, is such a home remedy. But there is no research showing that it either helps or prevents colds.