Fighting the Cold Battle
Today, there are over two hundred different types of viruses that are said to be the cause of the common cold. Because there are new cold viruses that are developing all the time, our bodies do not have time to build up a resistance to all of them. This fact tells us that colds will be a recurring problem. Children who are preschool and elementary school age are known to have between three and twelve colds each year, with adults having between two and four annually.
Many adults will miss days from work because of this frequent illness as it is known as the leading cause for doctor visits. Symptoms can come in many forms, but the most typical is the sneezing, stuffy nose, cough, headache and a fever. As the cold progresses, it can cause you to feel achy and tired and last from three to ten days typically. To prevent a cold, frequent hand washing is advised so you can destroy viruses that you pick up from contaminated surfaces. You can make a few lifestyle changes as a way to decrease your chances of getting a cold. Stop smoking is one good change that you can make and stress management is another.
There is no cure for the common cold, although there are things you can do to help alleviate the symptoms. If you feel you have a cold coming and you do not know how to stop a cold, then begin by drinking lots of fluids and get plenty of rest. You can try throat lozenges and throat sprays to help if your throat is feeling badly and cough drops and syrups can bring some relief also. Sudafed, a decongestant can be used for any nasal symptoms you have and a humidifier can be of some benefit too. A fever can be treated with aspirin and other acetaminophen for body aches. It has been noticed that aspirin and medication that contain aspirin should not be used for teenagers or children. Reye’s syndrome has been associated with children and aspirin and this is a rare and potentially fatal condition. Contrary to popular belief, antibiotics are not beneficial when it comes to treating the common cold. Antibiotics are for treating bacteria and the common cold is caused by a virus. It is possible for a inner ear infection or sinusitis to arise because of a cold but that treatments is left up to your doctor.
