Nothing is as frustrating as experiencing cold symptoms such a runny nose, congested nasal airways, watery eyes, constant sneezing, and a scratchy throat. The average individual will have flu at least once a year, making it one of the most common viral infections.
There are over 200 different types of viruses that cause common colds and there is unfortunately no cure for it, instead, there are certain medications you can take that can assist in boosting your immune system to fight off the cold virus.
While there are over the counter medications available to relieve cold symptoms, many still utilize the traditional methods of treating their colds with natural home remedies.
Drink Significant Amounts of Liquid
The reason why staying hydrated helps in fighting cold symptoms is that liquid thins our mucus, and this helps in excreting it from our noses. To also prevent having dry mucus, it’s important to drink liquids to aid in well lubricated mucus membranes.
Drinking warm liquids will provide you with relieving nasal congestion and keep you warm. Some good hot drinks for cold symptoms are herbal teas with a slice of lemon. You can drink this while in bed enjoying games where you can win playing online.
Get Enough Rest
Fighting an illness can be a huge burden on your body, so it’s important to give yourself much needed rest that will boost your immune system to fight the cold virus. Getting rest means you will take regular naps, avoid strenuous activities such as exercising, and taking it a little easier at work.
Decongest in Several Ways
When mucus builds in our lungs and nasal pathways, this causes congestion. Congestion leaves you with a stuffy nose, blocked ears, difficulty in breathing, tasting food and speaking. Congestion clears on its own after several days, but you can try various methods to alleviate this uncomfortable situation.
Running a hot and steamy shower will help in clearing a blocked nose by inhaling the steam. Sleeping with an extra pillow will make it easier for you to breath better through your nose while sleeping.
Up Your Vitamin C Intake
Vitamin C alone will not prevent you catching a cold, however, taking it prior to experiencing cold symptoms will assist you significantly in boosting your immune system to fight off the virus. Some food that contains Vitamin C aside from oranges are broccoli, kale, kiwi, peppers, and guava.
Gargle with Salt Water
To ease the discomfort experienced with cold symptoms on your throat and nasal congestion, gargling is a good temporary solution. To do this, dissolve a teaspoon of salt in a glass of water, gargle for a couple of minutes and then spit out the water solution. Do this at least twice or three times a day until you begin feeling better.
A cold is contagious and as a result, it is your responsibility to try and contain it and avoid spreading it to other people. When you are not feeling well, try to stay at home and take time off from school, work, and public areas in general. Most people normally recover from cold symptoms after a week. Practicing good hygiene is vital to prevent the spreading of the virus. Wash your hands regularly with soap and water for at least sixty seconds and always cover your nose and mouth when you sneeze and cough.
