Home interventions for common colds..

Headaches, sore throat, sneezing and sniffing? Oh dear, you are just like me inserting tissues in my nostrils to absorb the unstoppable flowing of discharges from my nose.

And that is a start of an acute coryza, or more known as common colds. This infection is caused by a self-limiting virus that may last up to 3 weeks. That means there is no cure for this infection but eventually the symptoms will just be resolved. Therefore i would like to share the simple interventions and management for the infection's symptoms manifested by an infected person.

These following interventions are just to relieve and lessen the uncomfortability of symptoms, so, to make you feel at least comfortable.

• Headache - usually the ache is on the forehead or just above the eyebrows. Its because of the clogged sinuses. Get a small towel soak it with warm water, place and leave it on your forehead until no warmth felt then soak the towel again. Taking analgesic at the same time can hasten the headache relief. Doing the towel warm therapy will be best effective if your lying on bed and elevate your head with 2 pillows (after a while you'll fall asleep and when you wake up, it feels better). Something warm will make any contracted sinuses or veins to relax, so allows blood flow therefore that makes relief of any pain due to contraction.
• Nasal congestion - or clogged nose may cause also the headache. So i suggest relieve the nasal congestion first. How to do this at home? Half teaspoon of salt mixed on a 250ml warm water, and do nasal wash. Pour the saline on your cupped hand and sniff the water make it sure it went through and blow it out. Do it twice. It will softens the nasal passages allow good breathing and gives the opportunity to blow out the discharges.
• Sore throat - drink lots of fluid, warm tea, lemon, honey and eat fruits like oranges and apple, they contain Vitamin C and Zinc which increases your immune system.
• Fever - analgesics and paracetamol from your physician's prescription and take 8 hours of sleep.
• Tinnitus - buzzing in the ear. Sometimes you'll experience this, especially when there is nasal congestion. There are 3 management for these:   

1.) nasal wash (nasal congestion instructions);

2.) Valsalva maneuver (with closed mouth and pinched your nose, blow like blowing out discharges from your nose and then swallow) this is to equalize the pressure between your sinuses and ears;
3.) chewing gum (chewing helps release pressure from the ear) it can be done also when your on a plane ride.

Aside from this home interventions, you need to know that is why you acquired this infection because the so called immune system in our body that fights from illnesses brought by harmful microorganisms, is not strong enough to kill them. Due to that reason, immune system must increase its strength. Taking vitamin C improves our physiological fighting system. For a healthy person usually we take 500mg daily as it is the available in the market. Take double dose of it, that makes it 1000mg (if you have colds). Do not take less or more than from these range, 400-1000mg. For those  who has kidney problems and iron disorders, ask your doctor first before taking Vitamin C. The right time for taking Vitamin C is 30 minutes before and after meal for well absorption. For additional information, Vitamin C is a natural antihistamine, it means it decreases allergic reactions in the body.

My brand name's choice. Fern-C(sodium ascorbate)

http://www.fern-c.com/_php/

Be healthy! Eat healthy!

sniff! sniff!