If there’s something sure to make one’s life miserable for a few days, it’s the common cold prevalent in this season of the year. It’s the time of the year for a runny nose, irritating cough, sore throat, and fever.

Looking for the best strategies on how to deal with the cough and catarrh (common cold) and stay healthy year-round? Pull up a seat and enjoy this read.

Wash hands frequently

Practicing good hygiene like washing your hands is a great preventable way of contracting the cold or flu virus. Scrub your hands with soap and water before eating, post spending time in open spaces, and before and after using the bathroom, etc.

To wash your hands properly, follow these instructions:

Wet your hands with lukewarm water

Apply soap to your hands

Rub hands with soap to lather. Scrub everywhere. Do not forget to scrub under your fingernails, between your fingers, and the backs of your hands.
Scrub for at least 20 seconds. Singing “Happy Birthday” is a quick way to get the timing right.
Rinse your hands with clean water.
Put off the tap with a paper towel so you do not contaminate your hands again.
Use a paper towel to open/shut the door of a public bathroom.

Use hand sanitizer when there isn’t soap available, preferably a 60% alcohol-based hand sanitizer. If hands are visibly dirty, it’s best to use soap and water.

And remember to keep your hands away from your face. Do not touch your eyes, nostrils, or ears if your hands aren’t clean. Transporting germs from your hands to your face can lead to infection.

Keep your distance from sick people.
Keep at least 2 feet (0.61 m) distance between you and other people you notice are sick. Colds are transmitted more easily if one is close to someone with a cold.

If a friend has a fever with cold symptoms, she is more than likely contagious. Even if the friend says she feels better, she might still share the virus with you, as a cold virus can be contagious for up to 2 weeks.

Not even if she is on antibiotics for her cold. Antibiotics do not treat the viral infection, and so, the friend can still spread the virus.

Also, it might be a good time to limit exposure at places like airports and markets. This is because places, where there are a lot of people, are going to have more cold germs. If you are concerned about getting sick with cough/catarrh, stay away from these places as much as you can.

Consider Changing Your Diet

Consider tweaking your diet to include lots of fruits and vegetables. While hygiene is the most important, eating a variety of healthy foods will do your body a lot of good. Eat nutrient-rich foods and cut down on sugar, processed and fried foods.

Besides, a healthier diet does provide nutrition that can help the immune system fight off infections.

Doing a combination of many strategies will be most effective in dealing with colds. A person cannot eat a bowl of grapes, not wash hands all day, and then expect to be healthy.

Eat Foods that Boost Immunity.

A number of foods have key vitamins or antioxidants which are helpful in fighting off infection. Some of these foods include:

Fish: This helps by fighting inflammation associated with colds. Eat deep water fatty options such as wild salmon, mackerel, and whitefish.

Garlic: This contains antioxidant properties that help fight a cold.

Honey: Honey has antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, which can help prevent a cold and lessen infection time. Eat a teaspoonful or two of natural honey or mix it in with a cup of herbal tea.

Red peppers: These are said to have even more Vitamin C than oranges.

Milk: This is highly recommended because of its Vitamin D content.

Oranges: These are the staple of Vitamin C. You can eat an orange each day or drink a cup of orange juice to get a good amount of Vitamin C.

Apples: Great antioxidants.

Paw-paws: Contain a ton of Vitamin C.

Stay Hydrated

Drink lots of water to keep yourself from getting dehydrated. Findings say men should consume 13 eight-ounce servings of fluids per day and women should drink about 9 eight-ounce servings of fluids per day. This is both water and fluids you’ve consumed through food.

Water can also avert dryness in your nose or throat, which may also help you avoid getting a cold.

Exercise even when sick

Regular exercise will help you stay healthy, reduce stress, boost body energy levels, and keep a cold at bay.

Keep exercising, even when sick, but give in to the need to slow it down a bit, especially if your energy levels are low.

Consult with your doctor before starting an exercise regimen if you haven’t been exercising regularly.

Reduce stress

Stress affects the body in a number of ways, including increasing the possibility of getting sick. Stress also extends recovery time. Keep stress levels down by identifying causes, learning coping mechanisms, and resting when due.

Also, sleep much longer than normal, or at least for 8 hours daily. By resting longer than usual, the body will get needed rest to regenerate. Routine day-to-day activities leave wear and tear on the cells within the immune system. Quality rest helps rebuild those cells to function every day

Use a nasal drop or saline spray to reduce nasal congestion.
If it comes down to it and the flu does find you, getting a saline spray might be a good action call. If your nose is stuffy, a saline spray will help relieve the nasal congestion.

In most states, saline sprays or nasal drops are readily available at pharmacies.

Follow the pharmacist’s/package’s instructions when using one.

Stay safe.

By Joe Nwiloh

For Advert, Event Coverage, Story/Article Publication, Change Of Name & Placement In Newspapers, PR & Other Media Services
Contact Us On: 08052038389
Send Email To: citizennewsng@gmail.com
Visit Citizen NewsNG To Read More Latest And Interesting News