How to help yourself with a cold or flu: 10 life hacking
The beginning of the school year and the return from holidays windows that are closed due to the autumn coolness, tightness in transport — all this contributes to the spread of viral infections. It is known that the best way to prevent influenza is vaccination, and for the optimal functioning of the immune system, you need to eat and move more in a diverse and balanced way. If ARVI, including flu, has already begun, it can not be cured - you can only observe how the body copes itself. But this does not mean that you can not ease your own condition during a cold and reduce the risk of complications. We tell how this can be done.
Have a rest
Regular activity helps to reduce the risk of a cold, but if you are already sick, trying to move SARS "on your feet" will not help you recover faster. If the temperature is elevated, it is not necessary to further increase its sports activities - it only hurts the body. Even in the nineties, it was found that training during the flu can lead to the development of chronic fatigue syndrome - a serious illness, which then has to be fought for years. The best way to help the body recover is rest and sleep, so take a couple of days off and lie down. When the temperature and state of health are normalized, a residual coryza or cough should not be an obstacle to physical activity, and a quick walk or an easy workout will be beneficial.
Air out
Contrary to popular myth, cool air will not aggravate a cold — and if you are cold, dress warmly or wrap yourself in a blanket. You need to open the windows as often as possible so that the air in the apartment does not stagnate; It is the absence of air exchange in poorly ventilated premises that causes many viral infections in the fall. One of the methods to fight epidemics and pandemics of influenza is to arrange outdoor wards for hospital wards; in such hospitals, more staff and patients were able to escape from infection.
Moisturize
Humid air helps to cope with a stuffy nose and alleviate discomfort in the eyes. Breathing hot steam is not necessary - just turn on the humidifier, if you have one, put a wet towel on the battery or just sit in the shower for a few minutes (moisture-unstable gadgets, don't take it with you, so close your eyes and meditate). In humid air, viruses spread worse - perhaps one of the reasons for lowering the frequency of colds in the summer is just high humidity.
Drink
When the temperature rises, the body loses moisture, and in the situation of the threat of dehydration, recovering from a viral infection is more difficult. Drink any non-alcoholic liquids: water, tea, coffee, juice or kefir. It is believed that warm drinks like tea or chicken broth help to cope with the congestion of the respiratory tract - and the latter will also serve as a source of energy if there is no appetite and strength at all. Recall that the average recommended volume is 2.7 liters per day for women and 3.7 liters for men, including liquid in drinks and food.
Do not be afraid of the cold
Cold drinks and foods won't make the cold worse either - but ice cream can relieve a sore throat. Again, it is quite nutritious, but it is easily digested and does not require cooking - you don’t even need to get the plate; just ask someone to go to the store or order a delivery. It is better to choose soft ice cream (or frozen yogurt), without pieces of chocolate or nuts, which can scratch the irritated throat. Another means to anesthetize the throat - pieces of ice.
Take anti-inflammatory
Taking the medication will not make the flu go faster, but will become more tolerable. Ibuprofen and paracetamol reduce temperature, relieve headache and muscle pain, and fight inflammation. Most of the drugs in pills or bags, which are positioned as a means to treat colds, actually contain precisely these anti-inflammatory drugs in combination with components for congestion or cough. These medicines (by indications and short course) are safe even during pregnancy.
Treat symptoms
The fact that a viral infection is not treated does not mean that you need to completely give up drugs. A cold is just the case when it is possible and necessary to treat not the disease, but its manifestations. Discomfort from pain or sore throat can be reduced by rinsing. In case of rhinitis, vasoconstrictive drops will help (only they should be used strictly according to the instructions) or just moisturizing the mucous saline. With body aches or weakness, it is best to take an ibuprofen pill and get a good sleep, and if you are cold - get warm.
Do not get carried away with traditional medicine.
Mustard and cans, rubbing with alcohol-containing liquids to reduce the temperature or inhalation over a hot pan - although these methods bring a certain effect, it is incomparable with their danger. To reduce the body temperature of a child can be warm or cool shower, without putting him at risk of poisoning with vinegar or alcohol. Steam to moisten the mucous membranes should not be hot, and folk methods only increase the likelihood of a serious burn.
Do not take antibiotics
Just repeat it again: antibiotics are useless for a viral infection. Neither the duration of the cold, nor the color of nasal discharge say that the infection has become bacterial. You should not be prescribed antibiotics "just in case" either. At least one third of antibiotic prescriptions in recent years in the United States have been superfluous - and in Russia the rates are probably higher, considering the non-evidence-based approaches, self-medication and the availability of over-the-counter medications.
Do not spread the infection
A few days of bed rest will be beneficial not only for you, but also for others - it is better not to appear at work, in public transport or shops. Air often, wash your hands, use disposable handkerchiefs. If you don’t have time to get a napkin, do not sneeze into the palm of your hand, but into the crook of your elbow, otherwise microorganisms from the palm will spread through door handles or other objects. Wear a mask if you are sick - it will help not to spread the infection.
PHOTO:Goinyk - stock.adobe.com, hanohiki - stock.adobe.com, A'GACI
