Coming down with a cold or flu can be the worst thing that can happen to you, especially, when you’re the type of person who is always on the move. A cold or flu can hamper your performance at work and your daily relationship with your family because people who are sick are either short-tempered or too weak to move. Cold and flu are not of the same level but there are similarities between the two. Cold comes with a stuffy nose, a giant headache and sore throat while flu can tie you to your bed for a week or so because it is associated with fever, muscle aches and can even lead to pneumonia.
A cold or flu is caused by viruses. A common virus in cold is the rhinovirus and among the common viruses, influenza is the worst of them all. Each virus comes with a season. Rhinovirus is prevalent during late summer while influenza is common during winter. Children are most prone to cold since they mingle with a lot of more children. Women are also more prone to cold than men because of their constant contact with children. The virus enters our body through our nose and mouth and being near to someone with cold can make us catch the disease. Through talking, coughing and sneezing, the virus is spread through the air.
Practicing good hygiene can prevent occurrence of cold and flu. Frequent washing of hands can eliminate viruses that you have contacted through touching infected people’s stuff. Carrying hand gels is also very important for immediate cleaning when there’s no water and soap around. Clean surfaces with disinfectant when someone in the family has a cold. When you’re the one sick, cover your mouth with a tissue when you sneeze and throw it away immediately. Don’t share utensils with people who has cold and avoid contact with sick people when you can. A flu shot can prevent you from having the flu but you’ll probably go down with a fever after the shot.
Get plenty of rest and take a lot of fluids when you’re sick. Antibiotics aren’t needed when you have a cold or flu but cough and cold medicine can do the trick. A high dose of Vitamin C can shorten the duration of cold. Zinc nasal sprays can help ease the cold but there is evidence that this can lead to permanent loss of smell so this is not really recommended. A humidifier can also help make you feel better.
{ 0 comments… add one now }