10 Ways to Fight a Cold

WHEN DAYS GET SHORTER and temperatures drop, we begin to brace ourselves for the aptly named common cold.With good reason: adults usually contract between one and three colds each year, while young children catch about six. And for every reason who is  coughing and sneezing, there could be two or three people asymptomtically harbouring a cold virus

if you're already sick , you can minimize your symptoms. Here;s how:

1.Wash your hands often

Many products and practices claim to help prevent colds , but cleaning your hands remain the most effective measure.For best results, wash with soap for a minimum of 15 seconds

When sick people cough or sneeze , tiny droplets sprinkle the surfaces surrounding them with cold viruses .According to chuck Gerba, a microbiology professor at the university of arizona, usa , we catch a lot of colds from touching those surfaces.

2.Choose meds wisely 

Doctors often joke that a cold treated without medicines takes seven days to go away and with medicines it taken a week.

"The common cold cold is self limiting , usually the body recovers in three to five days," says Sibal. "However in cases of viral infection , medication can offer relief from symptoms like fever and body pain".

3.Get some rest 

Nothing compromises your immunity like poor sleep. A 2015 study published in sleep found that participants who slept for six hours or less night were more likely to catch cold who exposed to the virus than those who slept longer than seven hours 

4.Give zinc and vit c a go 

One dietary supplement that shows some promise in trating cold is zinc(although further research would be helpful in tracking its effect with more certainty). "It should be in the form of a lozenge or a powder that dissolves in liquid,allowing you to swish and rub it around the inside of mouth, as it directly blinds to virus particles and inactivates them,"

5.Keep your toes toasty

In addition to protecting your head and neck against the chill when you venture outside ,make sure your foot wear is warn and leak-free ."chilling of any part of the body can do this ,but the feet seem to  be particularly sensitive,"says ron eeccles,director of the common cold centre at cardiff university.

6.Scoop up yogurt

You may know people who consume yogurt containing probiotics to improve their digestive function.probiotics live microorganisms ,including specifics beneficial bacteria have also been shown  to help boost immune function 

7.Call in sick

The cold virus is contagious in first few days .It is best you stay in doors if you suffer from runny  nose and an irritated throat.The same goes for your child."If you know he/she can't breathe comfortably or that the cold will hamper concentration in class,it is best to let the little one rest.

8.Tempt your taste buds

When you've got a scratchy throat and a cough,fight back with host, tasty coups or ginger tea or a warm honey and lemon drink."They'll provide relief for your sore of growing up and eventuallu help strenghthen his/her immunity," says Sibal.

9) Attempt genus Echinacea.
The analysis on whether or not or not this herb will stop onset of a chilly or assist you pass though one quicker goes back and forth. Dr. Barett didn’t realize definitive proof, either, however he did discover one thing fascinating in his analysis. His cluster gave either placebos or genus Echinacea to some individuals, and no pills to others. Then, they watched to check UN agency got colds.People UN agency had some positive expertise with echinacea—they’d taken it before and thought it worked—and who received pills, had colds that were concerning a pair of.5 days shorter than folks that didn’t get any pills. It didn’t matter whether or not the pill truly had genus Echinacea in it or not. “There’s a really robust outcome with colds,” Dr. Barrett says. which means if you think that genus Echinacea (or another harmless remedy like chicken soup) works, go for it.