THISDAY

Tips To Treating Common Cold

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There are times when the human body just slows down and if at this time you are exposed to infections or harsh weather conditions, you may just come up with symptoms of common colds. The body’s immune system is compromise­d and the infection sets in. It could be caused by various infecting agents which have been able to attack your body defense and you become ill. A cold is a mild viral infection of the nose, throat, sinuses and upper airways. It’s very common and usually clears up on its own within a week or two. The common cold is a self-limited contagious disease that can be caused by a number of different types of viruses. The common cold is medically referred to as a viral upper respirator­y tract infection. Common colds, known as viral rhinitis, the ordinary cold is among the most common infections among humans. It is primarily an upper respirator­y tract infection that can be caused by several virus families. The virus family that is responsibl­e for up to 40 percent of colds is called rhino-virus and it has over 100 distinct virus types. Since common cold symptoms can be caused by so many viruses, it has not been possible to develop a simple cure for the infection. The common cold should not be mistaken for influenza, which can make you ill for much longer, has more severe symptoms, and can result in hospitalis­ation or lead to serious health problems including pneumonia. nose or eyes

droplets of fluid that contain the cold virus – these are launched into the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes

most easily among groups of people in constant close contact, such as families and children in school or day care facilities. They’re also more frequent during the winter, although it’s not clear exactly why.

Anumber of different viruses can cause a cold, so it’s possible to have several colds one after the other, as each one may be caused by a different virus.

To lower your chances of getting infected,

you can take some simple steps to

1. Wash your hands regularly, particular­ly before touching your nose or mouth and before handling food

2. Always sneeze and cough into tissues – this will help prevent the virus-containing droplets from your nose and mouth entering the air, where they can infect others; you should throw away used tissues immediatel­y and wash your hands 3. Clean surfaces regularly to keep them free of germs 4. Use your own cup, plates, cutlery and kitchen utensils

cold

It’s been suggested that vitamin C, zinc and garlic supplement­s may help reduce your risk of getting a cold, but there’s currently not enough strong evidence to support this.

Hand washing:Adults and children should wash their hands after nose wiping, using the bathroom, preparing food, eating, etc.

be to disinfect commonly touched surfaces such as door approved disinfecta­nt.

sanitizers.

public facilities.

working at the optimal level.

minerals to optimize your immune health. help prevent the common cold.

relieve congestion and stop secretions. They can also be used to stop cough if it is triggered by mucus in the throat.

watery eyes and runny nose.

shorten the duration of common cold symptoms.

cold and its symptoms.

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