Common Cold Symptoms and Treatments

Common Cold Symptoms and Treatments

Common cold is the most frequent infection in all age groups in our society. Cold symptoms are triggered when a virus attaches itself to the lining of your nasal passages or throat. Your immune system responds by attacking the germ with white blood cells called neutrophils. If your immune system cannot recognize the virus the response is "nonspecific" meaning your body produces as many neutrophils as possible and circulated them to the infected sites. This all out attack kills many viruses, but it does not affect the 200 or more viruses that cause colds. Extra neutrophils clumping together at infection sites are what cause the achiness and information of a cold, complete with the vast amounts of mucus in the nose and throat.

Cold symptoms begins between one and four days after you are infected by a cold virus and typically last for about three days. During the time you have symptoms, you are contagious which means you can pass the cold to others. The illness usually goes away in a week or so without any special medicine.


Symptoms


  1. Head and chest congestion, possibly with a runny nose and difficult breathing.
  2. Sore throat.
  3. Sneezing.
  4. Dry cough that may occur only at night.
  5. Chills.
  6. Burning, watery eyes.
  7. Vague achiness all over your body.
  8. Headache.

Treatments


Herbal Therapies

Echinacea can reduce a cold's intensity and duration, often even preventing it from becoming a full fledged infection. Echinacea apparently stimulates the immune response, enhancing resistance to all infection. It is most palatable in capsules and tincture. Goldenseal helps clear mucus from the throat. It also contains the natural antibiotic berberine, which can help prevent bacterial infections that often follow colds. Take 10 to 15 drops of either herb in an alcohol free form, known as glycerite tincture, two to three times a day for seven to ten days.

For a good "cold tea", combine equal parts elder, peppermint and yarrow and steep 1 to 2 tsp of the mixture in 1 cup hot water. This blend can help the body handle fever and reduce achiness, congestion and inflammation.

Garlic appears to shorten a cold's duration and severity. Any form seems to work; capsules or tablets, oil rubbed on the skin, or whole garlic roasted or cooked in other foods. If you elect capsules, take three of them, three times daily, until the cold is over.

The chinese herbal formula Yin Qiao Pian is said to be very effective for stopping a cold at the outset.

Nutrition and diet
Good nutrition is essential for resisting and recovering from a cold. Eat a balanced diet. Take Vitamin A and B complex and Vitamin C as well as the minerals zinc and copper. If your diet is deficient in zinc your body is low in neutrophils, including colds. While you have cold avoid dairy products which tend to make mucus thicker. Jewish penicillin also known as chicken soup has been heralded as a cold therapy since the past. The recent scientific evidence supports the notion that the soup reduces cold symptoms especially congestion. Any spicy food enough to make your eyes water will have the same effect on your nose, promoting drainage. If you choose hot spicy food that will help your body fight from the cold.

Home remedies
  1. Get plenty of rest. You may find need 12 hours or more of sleep per night while you are fighting a cold.
  2. Keep your body hydrated by drinking up to eight glasses of fluid each day; this will replace fluids lost through perspiration and your runny nose and minimize congestion.

Prevention
A strong immune system is the best defense against all infections. Boost your body's natural resistance by eating well; not smoking, and drinking plenty of fluids every day. Minimize contact with people who have colds, or at least don't share towels, silverware, or beverages with them. Cold viruses often survive for hours on doorknobs, money and other surfaces, so wash your hands frequently.