Cold in pregnancy
In general, a cold is not considered a dangerous disease, but due to the restriction of taking some medicines during pregnancy, it is possible to experience severe and prolonged symptoms.
Naturally, the body’s immune system in pregnancy is somewhat suppressed and acts much slower than before, this feature in pregnancy is because your immune system considers the fetus as part of the body and does not attack it, so that the fetus can Live the entire pregnancy in your womb. In this case, the body is in a condition that requires more care, and in case of disease, during pregnancy, you cannot use any medicine to treat it.
Of course, with a weakened immune system, your body will not be able to fight colds like it did before pregnancy, and as a result, you will be more vulnerable to runny nose, cough, and sore throat caused by the cold virus. A cold is boring and uncomfortable for everyone, not just for you. For this reason, you should not immediately resort to medicine under the excuse of irritation. In this article, we try to tell you what you need about colds during pregnancy.
What is the cause of a cold?
Colds are usually caused by a virus called rhinovirus. There are over 200 types of cold viruses that you should protect yourself from.
Cold symptoms
A cold usually starts with a sore throat within a day or two and continues gradually with other symptoms, which include the following:
runny nose;
Sneeze;
moderate fatigue;
dry cough, especially in the last days, which may last a week or more and recover later than other symptoms;
No fever or mild fever (usually less than 37.7 degrees Celsius).
What is the difference between flu and cold?
Cold and flu have differences that we mention two general ones:
A cold is milder than the flu. The onset of symptoms is gradual and usually not accompanied by fever. Sore throat appears one or two days before other symptoms and runny nose and cough are the main symptoms.
Influenza is much more severe than cold and it starts suddenly.
Flu symptoms
high fever (38.8 -40 degrees);
Headache;
feeling of shivering;
A sore throat that occurs within 2 to 3 days after infection (exactly the opposite of a cold);
Muscular pain;
general fatigue and weakness (which can last more than two weeks);
You may also experience occasional sneezing and often coughing that become more severe over time.
When should we see a doctor for a cold?
Having a fever above 38 degrees (high body temperature causes some abnormalities in the first weeks of pregnancy);
Throbbing in the sinuses;
Cough with green or yellow sputum;
Cough with chest pain or wheezing;
Let your cold last longer and don’t get better with healthy eating and rest.
If the symptoms last for more than two weeks, there is a possibility that the cold has progressed to a secondary infection and it is necessary to prescribe medicine for the safety of you and your child.
Treatment solutions for colds in pregnancy
Although many cold symptoms relief drugs are harmless in pregnancy, but you should not rush to use these drugs to eliminate these symptoms, including runny nose, cough, etc.
Following these tips will help you get better faster:
take a rest Of course, bed rest does not necessarily shorten the duration of a cold, but in any case, resting in the early days is somewhat beneficial for your body.
Do light exercises. If the fever or cough hasn’t started yet and you have mild to moderate symptoms, help your blood circulate better and recover faster by doing safe exercises during pregnancy.
eat food Although your desire to eat during a cold is reduced, eating healthy foods during this period is very helpful.
Pay attention to sources of vitamin C. These sources help to naturally strengthen your immune system. For example, increase the consumption of the following items during this period:
Orange, tangerine, grapefruit, strawberry, melon, kiwi, mango, tomato, broccoli, purple cabbage and spinach.
Foods containing zinc help strengthen your immune system. Its sources include turkey, beef, cooked oysters, eggs, yogurt, wheat bran, and oats.
Fever, sneezing and runny nose may dehydrate you, so drink plenty of water. Warm drinks are soothing. Therefore, have a warm drink or warm soup after sleeping and try to drink enough fluids to completely saturate your body with water, because they flush out bacteria, viruses, and other toxins from the body.
Take safe food supplements. Take your prenatal supplements that contain vitamin C and zinc. Because a cold weakens your body’s defense system. (but consult your doctor before use)
Get enough sleep. You can breathe easier by placing two pillows under your head while sleeping or lying down. Also, by clearing your nose, open your airways so that you can breathe easily.
Wash your hands several times a day.
Do not travel in crowded areas.
Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, as they boost the immune system.
Do not use ice water.
Avoid fried and high-fat foods.
Do not use fruits such as cucumbers, melons and grapes.
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