Rhinitis and stuffy nose, teary eyes, hoarse and sore throat, some heat. Colds are considered a "mild" illness but can be very troublesome, interrupting schooling, sleep and canceling workdays and appointments. When chilled it is difficult to breathe, the food is bland and the head is heavy, in short, unpleasant if not terrible.
Colds or colds are called in the medical language “upper respiratory tract infection”. It is a viral infection, one that antibiotics are ineffective against, and because there are over 200 types of colds, most of us "get runny" every year and sometimes up to 4 times a year. Statistically, children tend to catch much more colds. According to medical information, infants and children may contract many times during the year, and not just in winter.
How do you know this is cold?
Since this is a minor illness, as mentioned, you do not have to go to the doctor. Usually, the main symptom is a stuffy nose and nasal congestion, a plurality of runny nose, and sneezing. These are all sure signs of a cold. Sometimes accompanied by low fever, mild cough, and bad general feeling. When the temperature rises above 38 degrees, or when a frequent and severe cough develops, the cold may have developed into a more serious illness. In such cases, you should approach your doctor and get a diagnosis, and medication.
Regarding the drugs: Although different types of drugs, syrups, nose drops, and the like are used to treat colds without a doctor's prescription, it is important to note that these do not cure colds. They can only relieve the symptoms.
Should you use these? It depends on who you ask. Some may feel relieved, but it is worth knowing that the cold will go by itself even without medication. Some people recommend avoiding medication because of the side effects. Especially those caused by frequent use of nasal drops, designed to relieve congestion and runny nose. The recommendation is not to use drops for more than three consecutive days, because prolonged use may actually aggravate the runny nose.
Refrigeration Treatment: All Natural Methods
To avoid side effects, we've gathered recommendations for you to treat colds without medication:
Zinc, beta-carotene, and vitamin C: It is useful to eat foods rich in these, or increase the intake of vitamins and minerals through nutritional supplements.
Herbs and Spices: Echinacea, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves are herbs and spices that help the immune system.
Probiotics: Foods rich in “good” bacteria and taking various probiotics may help cope with colds and even prevent further infection. Also, probiotics maintain the health of the digestive system and can be helpful when taking medication, especially if antibiotics are needed because of a cold that has become complicated.
Propolis: Considered "antibiotic of nature" because Propolis helps the immune system fight bacteria and viruses while being rich in various vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
Drinks and hot soups: green or black tea, herbal infusions, "real" chicken broth, relieve sore throats, steam the world from which they help open a clogged nose, and provide the body with plenty of fluids and nutrients, especially in chicken broth.
Fruits and Vegetables: As you know, these have a variety of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Because the colorants they contain are also considered antioxidants, you should eat fruits and vegetables of all shades and colors. Garlic and onion are two vegetables that are considered to be especially essential during a cold.
Nutritional Supplements: If your diet is unbalanced or you don't want to eat because of the cold, supplements containing vitamins and minerals, or multivitamins, it can be used.
Apple cider vinegar: is considered effective for relieving sore throat. It is best to mix two tablespoons of it in a glass of water or a glass of juice, grate and drink.
What should you remove from the menu?
Some think that colds can be a great opportunity to change habits, increase fruit and vegetable intake, legumes, and whole grains, reduce consumption of snack sweets, and processed foods. It is also believed that removing sugar, white flour, and dairy products can ease the cold and speed up recovery.
