Common Cold: Causes, Symptoms, Prevention And Treatment

Table of Contents

It is obvious that common cold is a disease that affects the respiratory system, and it occurs most often in the winter season (sometimes twice in a year or anytime in a year. Most individuals those not count common cold as a serious disease or complicated disease, but the fact is any disease that is left untreated may be life treating to the patient.
However, common cold causes so much disturbance to the patient suffering from this disease but we just choose to ignore it.

The common cold is caused by or triggers by not limited to certain food:

Roasted corn or maize.
Some Roasted food should be washed and done in a hygienic way.

Also, raw food, because all these food contains bacteria.

In an infant, a complication may set in which can be very serious if left untreated. Which could lead to rheumatic fever; earache which could lead to so much trouble. Also, some medical conditions triggered it.
Common cold may last for several days or weeks, so you need to consult your physician for the best treatment recommendation that may suit your condition and recover from the disease quickly.

Signs and Symptoms of a common cold which include but not limited to :

1. Running nose.
2. Sneezing.
3. Coughing.
4. Difficult in breathing.
5. Blockage of the nose.
6. And even sore throat.

Prevention of common cold :

The prevention of common cold depends on individual differences and the body immune system. This depends on several factors, but the fact is keeping the body clean and be physically fit and above all properly balanced diet keeps the body alive and healthy.

Other includes:

Bathing the body day and night with clean water helps the body to be resistance to cold.
Avoid or limited close contact with the person that has a cold.
Using the same drinking glass cup.
Using the same towel with the person having a common cold
Using the same face and hand towel.
Sharing the same object that may have secretion from the nose and mouth.
Including the hand.

Those are the possible way to prevent the common cold.

Also, the environment must be cleaned. Living in a dirty area, not ventilated room, a dusty room could arbour the bacteria.

However, resting the body at a particular time when the body needs it is very important because this is the only way the body can regain all that it has been reduced from the body and gain back is body immune system to prepare against the next task ahead.

Exposure to a cold or wet cloth, loss of sleep and overwork at night, sitting in the wind could cause the common cold. Thus, all of this must be prevented. Those who have large tonsils and those who breathe through the mouth may have reoccurring attacks of a common cold. At first, there is a virus infection associated with watery discharge from the nose, and it could become pneumonia.
Also, a vaccine is available in some countries which helps to prevent this disease.

Treatment against a common cold

In recent time, treating common cold have various methods of treatment and various types of drugs.

1. If there are sore throat antibiotics may be administered by your doctor.

2. If there is ears or chest ache sulpha or penicillin may be administered.

3. If the symptoms are severe proper rest is important.

4. Food should be light.

5. Plenty of fresh fruit and water will help a lot.

However, in some cases that if the nose is blocked you may use nose drop that maybe be purchased from a chemist or over the counter drugs. In some countries where over the counter drugs is prohibited, you can consult your doctor or pharmacist.

In this case, using a clean towel with an ice pack placed on the side of the nose may help suppress the nose Blockage. This may be applied as long as you see fit. If there is sore throat a cough syrup maybe use. The cough syrup contains ingredients to liquefied the mucus as well as something to ease it. In some countries where over the counter drugs is prohibited, you can consult your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible.

It is often advised that staying in a well-ventilated area is best for every individual at all time of life.
Some individual practice making a cone and directing the warm steam up to the nose is not a good thing or advice able.

However, sometimes tickle in the throat start overnight causing continues coughing after some time or a few minutes after. At this time the patient can get warm moist air and breathing air warmed. This we help to reduce or relieve the cough which if allowed to go on may irritate the throat and the trachea and develop a more complicated issue.

Occasionally, if someone contacts this disease it may affect the vocal cords and may lose his or her voice. A cold compress may be applied and antibiotics maybe use, also antihistamines may be helpful.
Have a good best rest and do not talk too much rest your voice, and warm air to breathe is important for the treatment of a common cold.

Read also: 21 Benefits of Vegetables to Human Health

How to use a cold compress to treat a common cold

In the case of an early sore throat, a tickle or laryngitis ( loss of voice or low voice). A cold compress may be very useful ( also called heating method ).

It is often used by taking a piece of clean cloth or cotton, long enough to go round the neck and wide enough and must be very ticked. The cloth should be soaked in a cold tap clean water and wrung or squeezed as dry as possible. And should be placed around the neck. It is then covered with another piece of warm and dry flannel.

This dry cloth is more and twice the other side of the former cloth. This should be pinned with two pins and left on all night. In some cases, there are some individuals or patients who cannot tolerate the wet cloth so the dry one should be applied. This method can also be used for small children.