Tips for preventing and relieving colds
Although the winter has been quite mild so far, many people have caught a cold. This is due to the fact that solar radiation is low despite the relatively high temperatures in winter. The body needs sunlight to produce vitamin D, which serves our immune system.
“The vitamin D stores from the summer are used up over the winter,” explains Ursula Funke, President of the Hesse State Chamber of Pharmacists. In addition, the mild weather tempts us to choose the wrong clothes. Ursula Funke explains what you can do to prevent a cold and what remedies there are if you do get one.
The right clothing for mild winters
Daytime temperatures well above zero degrees, as we are experiencing this winter, are causing many people to choose light clothing. When it gets significantly colder in the evening, they are dressed too lightly and catch a cold. Therefore, it is advisable to dress in several layers according to the onion principle. Each piece of clothing should not be too thick. Instead, layering several lightweight shirts on top of each other provides warmth and flexibility. Instead of a thickly padded winter jacket, you can combine a slightly thinner coat with a cardigan. Depending on your needs, you simply put on or take off a layer throughout the day.
Support coughing
If you do catch a cold, the course of the disease often begins with a wet cough. Viruses penetrate the mucous membrane of the bronchi and the body reacts with increased mucus production. The cough reflex removes mucus from the respiratory tract. Therefore, coughing up during the day should not only be allowed, but also supported by an expectorant preparation. However, if the cough prevents restful sleep at night, a cough suppressant can be taken.
Annoying dry cough
Once the cold has already subsided, a dry, irritating cough sometimes remains for several weeks, which those affected often find annoying. You don't want to attract attention by coughing at work, at school or on public transport. A tea with honey can relieve the irritation. If that's not enough, there are soothing cough lozenges or juices available at your local pharmacy.
Herbal active ingredients for sore throats
A cold often presents itself with a sore throat. Sucking cough or throat drops with plant extracts from marshmallow, ribwort plantain or Icelandic moss stimulates saliva production and relieves the symptoms. Drinks also keep the oral mucous membranes moist and promote the healing process. Water and herbal teas are recommended. If the pain is so severe that these classic cold remedies do not provide sufficient relief, the team at the local pharmacy can recommend suitable alternatives. This includes special tea preparations made from medicinal herbs as well as proven medicines for pain.
Caring for a runny nose
When you have a cold, your nose runs and is temporarily blocked. These symptoms are the reaction of the nasal mucosa to an infection. Various nasal sprays with expectorant substances such as sea salt, plant extracts or essential oils can make breathing and everyday life easier for those suffering from a cold. Nourishing nasal ointments soothe the irritated, red skin around the nose and can also be applied to the inside of the nose with a cotton swab. A rich face cream with panthenol, pantothenic acid, allantoin or vitamin E protects and cares for the outside of the nose. Ask your local pharmacy for advice on which preparations are suitable for you.
You can find out why you should turn your nose up instead of having a severe sniff HERE .
Be careful with decongestant nasal sprays
Sometimes a cold is so severe that the nose is completely blocked and expectorant substances alone are not enough. Active ingredients such as xylometazoline or oxymetazoline cause the blood vessels to constrict and the nose is reliably cleared. If possible, these decongestant sprays should only be used at night to ensure a restful sleep and not for longer than seven days in a row, otherwise habituation will occur. Before each use, the nose is gently blown out. The spray's nasal adapter is inserted deep into the nostril for spraying. After use, the spray opening should be cleaned with a clean cloth and then closed with the protective cap.
The use of nasal drops
The same decongestant ingredients as in the sprays are also available in nasal drops. But the form of application is a little more complicated, but is preferred by some patients. After the nose has been cleared of secretions by gently blowing the nose, the drops should be instilled into the first nostril with the head bent back. Breathe in through your nose at the same time! Once the drops have reached the throat, the head is bent forward and then moved from left to right in order to distribute the solution evenly throughout the nose.
To avoid contamination of the pipette from the inside, it should be removed from the nostril with the suction cap compressed. The completely emptied pipette must be cleaned before reinsertion into the vial to drip into the second nostril and again to store the vial. The pipette is best rinsed with clean water or wiped with a clean cloth.
Go to the doctor with a cold
A doctor should be consulted not only if a certificate of incapacity for work is required, but also if the symptoms are very severe, a fever occurs, you are pregnant or the cough does not improve after one to two weeks of self-medication.
Immune system and hygiene
The immune system can also be strengthened in winter so that you don't catch a cold. Sufficient sleep, a balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals, fresh air, exercise and sauna sessions support the body's defense system. You can protect yourself particularly effectively through careful hand hygiene. This prevents viruses and bacteria from getting into your face through your fingers. You should wash your hands several times a day. You can avoid direct contact with “virus sources” such as grab handles on buses and trains by wearing gloves. Small bottles of disinfectant make hand care easier on the go.
If cold symptoms occur despite all precautionary measures, the team at the local pharmacy will recommend the appropriate medication for self-medication and provide valuable tips for further symptom relief. Even if you are unsure whether it is “just” a cold, you can seek advice from your pharmacist.
Around 6,500 pharmacists belong to the Hesse State Chamber of Pharmacists. The medical profession of the pharmacist is subject to a legal mandate. The tasks of the State Chamber of Pharmacists include promoting further education and training and monitoring compliance with professional obligations by its members.
Source:
German health portal
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