What is a cold?
A cold is actually a type of respiratory disease that is related to the upper part of the respiratory system and viruses are the main cause of it. Adults catch colds on average two to three times and children on average six to eight times per year. In each period, a cold lasts about 14 days.
The most important symptoms of a cold
The most common symptoms of a cold are stuffy and runny nose, sneezing and coughing. Sore throat is another symptom of a cold that may be present in the first few days of a cold, but it resolves quickly. A cold has similar symptoms to many other diseases, which we will discuss below.
The difference between the symptoms of influenza, colds, seasonal allergies
These diseases have common symptoms with colds that may be confused with colds.
The difference between the symptoms of influenza and a cold: Influenza has symptoms very similar to a cold, but the main difference between its symptoms and a cold is that the onset of the flu is lightning fast and accompanied by high fever, severe loss of appetite, chills, severe weakness, body pain and difficulty breathing. is to drag
On the other hand, the symptoms of a common cold are milder and are usually accompanied by sneezing and stuffy nose. (There is no shivering or severe pain.)
In both cases, there may be cough, headache and sore throat.
The difference between cold symptoms and seasonal sensitivity
Seasonal allergy, also known as “allergic rhinitis” and “hay fever”, is an inflammation of the upper respiratory tract and nose. The symptoms that make this disease similar to a cold are sneezing, runny nose and stuffy nose. But itchy eyes, throat and nose, red eyes and long cough usually happen due to allergy.
In addition, colds generally occur in cold seasons, but seasonal sensitivities or allergies can occur in all seasons.
What is the best way to treat a cold?
As we mentioned, the main source of this disease is a virus. Therefore, the best treatment for a cold is to drink plenty of fluids and rest. We tell you clearly that there is no specific treatment for a viral cold, and most of the treatments that exist only eliminate some of the symptoms of a cold, but they cannot shorten the course of the disease or cure it. Antibiotics are by no means the cure for a viral cold.
Over-the-counter medications can be used to relieve cold symptoms. For example, you can use acetaminophen or ibuprofen to relieve pain and fever, antihistamines to control sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes and nose, and cough, and decongestants to relieve nasal congestion and congestion.
No medicine cures the common cold, but some treatments help reduce cold symptoms and shorten the duration of the cold.
Do you know which cold treatment is effective and which is ineffective? So read on.
As cold is very common, various treatments are mentioned for it. In this article, we examine these treatments and review the available scientific information about them.
Effective treatments for colds
When we get a cold, we expect to have symptoms for one week and spend the second week with residual cold symptoms.
But that doesn’t mean spending two hard weeks; Because we can minimize the symptoms of cold by using medicinal and home remedies for cold.
Below, we get to know some cold treatments that scientific research has shown to be effective:
Drink enough water
When we drink enough fluids, the body will not be dehydrated and the secretions from the nose and other respiratory parts will be thinner. Water and juice are two good options.
A special suggestion to reduce cold symptoms is to drink warm water with fresh lemon juice and honey.
Avoid drinking coffee, carbonated or caffeinated drinks, and alcoholic beverages; Because they increase water excretion and cause dehydration in the body.
Resting at home
Reducing physical activity is necessary to shorten the course of the disease and recover sooner.
Sore throat treatment
Gargling warm saline solution in the mouth and throat is useful for reducing throat irritation and relieving throat discomfort in colds.
To make a salt solution suitable for washing the throat, we must dissolve one or half a teaspoon of salt in a glass (200 cc) of warm water.
It is better for people with high blood pressure to use baking soda instead of salt.
Typically, children six years of age or younger are unable to swish throat wash solution in their mouths.
Various types of sprays, pills or candy containing effective ingredients for treating sore throat can be obtained in pharmacies.
It is better not to give throat lozenges and tablets to children under 6 years old; Because there is a possibility of suffocation.
Relieving nasal congestion in colds
In addition to cold medicines that can be obtained from pharmacies, nasal drops and sprays containing saline solution can also be effective in relieving nasal congestion.
pain relief
For adults, using non-prescription painkillers with the advice of a pharmacist is the best way to reduce the pain caused by a cold.
Prescribing these drugs, especially aspirin for children, has prohibitions and restrictions, and it is better to consult a doctor specializing in children’s diseases. (For more information, read the article What is a child’s cold and what are its symptoms?)
hot soup
It is helpful to eat a few spoonfuls of warm soup at the beginning of the meal so that the swollen throat is ready to swallow the food. This will help reduce throat discomfort and make it easier to swallow food.
Increase in air humidity
Leaving a cold water mist at home or at work increases air humidity and helps to reduce nasal congestion and dilute respiratory secretions.
It is necessary to completely change the water in the device every day and wash and clean the vaporizer regularly according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
To treat colds in children under 5 years old, it is better to consult a doctor specializing in children’s diseases.
Ineffective treatment of colds
The available information shows that the following treatment is not effective for the common cold:
antibiotics
These drugs destroy bacteria, but we remind you that the cause of colds is a virus. For this reason, antibiotics have no role in the treatment of a simple cold.
Scientific information about the effect of vitamin C and zinc (Zinc) in the treatment of colds has been accompanied by conflicting results. We suggest that you consult your doctor before using them.
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