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Ward off frequent colds this winter

woman sneezing into a tissueCommon cold is so common in winter and here’s the reason for it. Moreover if you have a tendency of catching colds too frequently, then you need not worry as there are several ways to stave off this malady. Incidentally there was a brief mention in ‘The Daily Mail’ that there is a sharp rise (up to 50%) in cold and flu infections this week and this is quite likely to blight the Christmas break. So if don’t want the cold/flu bug to ruin your Christmas week, see to it that you follow these precautions scrupulously and yes, prevention is always better than cure.

Frequent Handwashing:

handwashing

Hand washing has long been touted as a way to prevent a cold during cold and flu season, and experts agree that is wise. But here's the newest twist: Paying attention to where you put your hands - and scheduling your hand washing around where your hands have been, rather than the clock - appear to be important, too. That's because cold viruses may linger on surfaces longer than suspected, according to Hendley and other University of Virginia researchers.

Gargle daily:

woman garglingJapanese researches say gargling might stop viruses from attaching to throat cells. Most certainly it’s not a very pleasant task and you may feel embarrassed in front of your family members each time you start making weird noises while gargling but that shouldn’t deter you from trying it.

Breathe steam:

woman inhaling steam

Steam liquefies and loosens mucus, allowing clearance of the airwaves that can relieve coughs and nasal congestion.

Nonetheless, in spite of all these precautions, if you do catch a cold, then try some of these home-remedies for relief.


Comments

  1. Anonymous10:45 AM

    Get plenty of rest and drink lots of fluids. Over-the-counter cold remedies may help ease your symptoms. These won't actually shorten the length of a cold, but can help you feel better.

    Antibiotics should not be used to treat a common cold. They will not help and may make the situation worse. Thick yellow or green nasal discharge is not a reason for antibiotics, unless it doesn't get better within 10 to 14 days. (In this case, it may be sinusitis.)

    New antiviral drugs could make runny noses completely clear up a day sooner than usual (and begin to ease the symptoms within a day). It’s unclear whether the benefits of these drugs outweigh the risks.

    Chicken soup has been used for treating common colds at least since the 12th century. It may really help. The heat, fluid, and salt may help you fight the infection.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous1:09 PM

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  3. Anonymous1:11 PM

    Hello!

    Thanks for sharing all of this valuable information.

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  4. Anonymous4:36 PM

    Thanks for the detailed notes on this.

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  6. Anonymous9:20 AM

    Garlic juice made by adding few drops of garlic oil to a teaspoonful of onion juice and diluting it in a cup of water is helpful for common cold
    • Another garlic remedy is made by taking 24 peeled cloves garlic and placing them in a medium-sized jar; and then adding raw honey a little at a time over a couple of days until the jar is full. Once full, set the jar set it in a sunlit window until the garlic has turned somewhat opaque and the honey tastes strongly of garlic. Take a teaspoon every few hours or whenever necessary.
    • A cup of strong elderberry tea at the onset of upper and/or lower respiratory virus seems to help thwart the virus. Some report that this is more effective for than echinacea.
    • Vitamin C, Zinc and Chicken Soup – three old standbys that work wonders!

    ReplyDelete

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