Colds can happen to anyone, especially those with low immunity such as children and the elderly. Although colds are not too dangerous, they cause a very uncomfortable feeling for the patient.
Most people with colds recover on their own and recover within about a week to 10 days. However, symptoms may persist for people who smoke or have weakened immune systems.
What factors increase the risk of catching a cold?
There are many different viruses that cause colds, but the most common is the Rhinovirus.
Cold viruses enter the human body through the mouth, eyes and nose. In addition, they can also be transmitted quickly through droplets in the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks. Moreover, normal people can also easily get this disease if they share personal items with an infected person such as towels, toys or phones.
Several risk factors can increase your risk of getting a cold, including:
- Age: Children under 6 years old are at high risk because their resistance is still weak; they are not yet able to fight against common harmful agents.
- Weak immune system: people who are suffering from chronic diseases or have a weak immune system; malnutrition are extremely susceptible to colds.
- Weather: Fall and winter are times when the climate often changes erratically. This is also the time when children and adults are most susceptible to colds.
- Smoking: People who smoke regularly or are frequently exposed to cigarette smoke are also factors that increase the risk of infection.
Treatment for cold
Depending on the severity of the disease as well as the symptoms of a cold, you can apply home remedies for colds using the following tips.
Clean nose
Colds often cause the nose to feel uncomfortable due to nasal congestion, runny nose or itchy nose. At this time, cleaning the nose can help patients effectively prevent mucus from penetrating deep into the nose. To clean the nose, it is best to use a saline solution.
Gargle with salt water
Diluted salt water is considered an excellent remedy for colds. Because salt has extremely high antiseptic and disinfectant properties, it can significantly eliminate bacteria. Gargling salt water to clean the mouth and throat not only quickly soothes sore throats but also effectively helps fight inflammation. Therefore, people with colds should gargle regularly 2-3 times a day with a diluted salt water solution to quickly recover from the disease.
Drink plenty of warm water
Drinking warm water is a simple and easy method but has many benefits for treating colds: it dissolves phlegm, reduces cough symptoms and soothes sore throats. Patients can also add a few slices of ginger or mix honey and lemon into a cup of warm water to increase the effectiveness of the treatment.
Herbal essential oils such as cajeput oil, peppermint oil, etc. are very effective in preventing and treating the common cold. Patients only need to apply a little essential oil to the area under the nose to help clear the nose, reduce the feeling of discomfort in the nose. In addition, essential oils can also be applied to the soles of the feet, temples or even mixed with bath water to treat colds.
Hot or cold compress
People with colds should also use hot or cold compresses around the sinus congestion to reduce nasal discomfort. While hot compresses can help reduce pressure in the sinuses and make the mucus in the nose thinner, cold compresses cause the blood vessels in the sinus area to constrict, providing immediate pain relief.
Reasonable living and resting
When you have a cold, the symptoms of the disease will make your body more sluggish and tired. However, because this is a common disease, many people are subjective, many people still work hard during the time of infection. This not only makes the disease take longer to heal but also has a high risk of recurrence.
Therefore, when having a cold, the patient should temporarily put work aside, spend more time resting and recuperating. A diet combined with reasonable sleep will help the body create more energy, thereby increasing resistance to disease.
When lying down, cold symptoms tend to increase, especially nasal congestion. Therefore, raising the pillow when sleeping will help the patient breathe easier and more comfortably. Because nasal discharge does not flow back up, it helps ensure the quality of sleep every night.
The temperature difference between indoors and outdoors is relatively large, especially in winter. Therefore, when you have a cold, you should limit going out. If you have to go outside, remember to wear a mask, scarf and warm clothes.
If the cold does not improve or becomes more severe, even with additional symptoms such as: High fever above 38.5 degrees Celsius or continuous fever for more than 3 days, symptoms of difficulty breathing, wheezing, sore throat, headache, you need to go to a medical facility for examination and treatment.
Source: https://giadinh.suckhoedoisong.vn/bi-cam-lanh-nen-lam-gi-de-nhanh-khoi-172250115162418197.htm
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