Colds – symptoms, treatment, prevention

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Do you sneeze, have a runny nose and sore throat? You probably got a cold. The symptoms caused by a cold often resemble flu symptoms, however, they are two different conditions, both caused by viruses. Colds are associated with much milder symptoms. Do you suspect you have a cold? Check how to deal with it most effectively.

Very often the symptoms of a cold do not remind us of anything, but many people who know their body very well in such a situation draw the conclusion “I think something is taking me”.

We can call a cold: a cold disease, viral nasopharyngitis, viral inflammation of the nasopharynx and paranasal sinuses. The name “cold” includes symptoms that result from inflammation of the nasal mucosa, throat and paranasal sinuses. The source of infection with colds are other people from whom we can catch the virus by droplets.

Children are a susceptible group to colds, and this is evidenced by the fact that the incidence in this group is even up to three times more often than in an adult.

1. An example of a cold medicine for children is Pelafen Baby 6m +

Adults who come into frequent contact with young children are more likely to become infected. As our immune system grows older and then gets older, it already knows how to deal with all the viruses that surround us, and therefore older people get sick much less often.

How often a cold occurs depends largely on the season. Based on research in North America, we know that in the United States, there are approximately 62 million cases of colds each year that are reported to a doctor, and the total number of patients is probably between 500 million and a billion.

Research proves that a cold is a disease that causes a large number of absences both from school and from work. For example, in the United States, the disease causes 22 million absences from work and 20 million absences from school each year (data presented on the basis of the National Institute of Health). How is the situation in Poland? Well, it is said that medical visits per year are approximately 9 million (due to colds). Unfortunately, there is no exact information about our country. At the same time, it is said that US data may be incorrect due to changes in the population structure and healthcare organization.

If you feel unwell, check your cold or flu symptoms during the e-visit. Teleconsultation will allow you to avoid leaving home if you feel worse, as well as obtain recommendations, e-prescription or e-dispensation.

Another theory is that cold air and sudden changes in temperature contribute to a cold in the fall and winter, causing changes in the nasal mucosa, which in turn facilitates attack by viruses, which weaken our natural defense barrier against infection.

In such cases, it is worth taking care of your immunity. It will be ensured by the appropriate level of vitamins and minerals in the body. You will provide them with a set of dietary supplements Vitamin Bomb from Swanson. Their composition includes, among others: vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E and vitamin B6, which positively affect the immune system and the functioning of the body.

Use infusions and herbal teas to support colds. This is best done from natural droughts that do not contain any preservatives or flavor enhancers. For example, plantain leaves, elderberry fruit or elderberry flower will work for colds. The anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and immune-boosting effect is also found in the herb, which is worth using in the autumn and winter period prophylactically and as an auxiliary in the treatment of flu and colds. We also recommend Hibiscus – an organic tea that has a tart taste, but is rich in vitamin C.

Flu has a sudden onset while a cold develops slowly. In the case of flu, the fever can even exceed 39 degrees Celsius, while with a cold it does not exceed 38 degrees C.

Flu symptoms include headache, runny nose, muscle and throat pain, sometimes diarrhea and vomiting. In a cold we experience a sore throat, cough and runny nose.

The verbena herb, which you can buy on Medonet Market in the form of organic tea, will help to relieve the symptoms of flu and colds. We also recommend For colds – a herbal set consisting of tea, syrup and a dietary supplement.

Complications after the flu (especially if untreated): meningitis, myocarditis or pneumonia may occur. When it comes to colds, conjunctivitis may be a complication. In general, an untreated cold does not have the same serious consequences as the flu.

To sum up, according to Dr. Ernest Kuchar from the Medical University of Wroclaw, flu is caused by other, more dangerous viruses than colds, is a much more severe disease, with a high risk of complications and can lead to death. The main symptoms are chills, fever, cough, sore throat, headache, osteoarticular pain, a feeling of crash and cold. Unlike the common cold, flu can be effectively prevented by vaccination, and specific antiviral medications are available.

• through contact with infected objects: some viruses can survive in the environment for several hours, e.g. on everyday objects (door handles, telephone receivers, handrails, etc.) – after touching an infected object, we become infected by touching our mouth, eyes or nose (therefore hand hygiene is important) in the period of increased incidence of colds).

The causes of colds

Colds are caused by viral infections, the types of these viruses are very different, and there can be up to 200 of them! This is why in the majority of the population, a cold occurs several times a year.

The most common viruses that cause colds are:

1. coronaviruses: only five species of this virus infect humans, which is why they are responsible for around 15% of all colds,
2. rhinoviruses: these are the viruses that cause half of all cases of the common cold, scientists mention that there are up to 100 species of rhinovirus.
3. other viruses: here we can mention, among others: adenoviruses, parvoviruses, para-influenza viruses, RSV or enteroviruses).

In many cases, doctors without specialized research are not able to distinguish between a cold and flu, so flu viruses should also be found among the causes of colds. The fact is that in patients with colds, microbiological testing is not preceded by special indications.

The above-mentioned data on viruses come from scientific research. It is known, however, that in everyday life the above information on which virus causes a cold does not influence medical treatment. It happens, however, that in patients with flu, the doctor orders specialist tests in this direction.

To improve your immunity and reduce the risk of colds, use WIRUSTOP – a herbal-fruit tea available on Medonet Market. We also recommend Healthy as Fish – a set of fruit and vegetable shots with herbs.

Read also: Thanks to viruses, we remember and learn

The nasal mucosa is lined on the inside with epithelium and covered with mucus. On the surface of this epithelium, we can find a very large number of different receptors, or proteins, that make it interact with other cells in the body. We can give you an example here ICAM-1 receptorswhich are one of the adhesive molecules that make communication between cells much easier. ICAM-1 receptors are also used to contact leukocytes, or white blood cells.

One by one, rhinoviruses attack the proteins mentioned above to get inside the cell – this is the most common cause of colds. The infected cell is exposed to the harmful effects of the virus. It is worth remembering that the virus, apart from the cells of other organisms, is dead (in the common sense of the word). The virus has no metabolism, and does not breathe or reproduce. A virus (rhinovirus) is a string of ribonucleic acid, RNA, that is surrounded by a protein envelope.

After the virus enters the cell, it is broken down into nucleic acid – the genetic material of the virus, and a protein – the viral envelope. The released genetic material is introduced into the host cell nucleus. There, thanks to the information contained in nucleic acid necessary for the multiplication of the virus, virus proteins are produced and nucleic acid is amplified – they will be used to generate daughter viruses.

The host cell then dies and the released viruses infect other cells. Fortunately, we can defend ourselves against this. Viruses can infect only certain cells. The altered cell is recognized by the body’s defenses (leukocytes, or white blood cells), and is attacked and killed. Often the infection is stopped in this way. If the body has previously been exposed to a given virus, the immune system has “learned” to recognize it quickly and subsequent infection is quickly controlled, the symptoms are mild or absent. If the inflammatory process does not eliminate the virus quickly, the infection spreads to the entire mucosa of the nose.

The substance and products released from disrupted cells are produced by activated leukocytes, increase the permeability of the blood vessel walls in the mucosa, and the fluid penetrates beyond the vessels, which in turn leads to swelling of the mucosa. Cells that are activated during the inflammatory process cause the secretion of, inter alia, histamine, prostaglandin, bradykinin and many other mediators, which have an impact on the intensification of the inflammatory reaction by attracting more leukocytes, activating them and increasing the permeability of blood vessels.

During a cold, the nose becomes blocked and the runny nose becomes watery. More and more leukocytes begin to pass through the vessel walls and then attack the infected cells. Due to the large amount of leukocytes and cell decay products, the so far watery nasal discharge begins to turn yellow. To help you breathe easier when you catch a cold, try the BIO cold balm Propolia BeeYes with propolis, which is rubbed into the neck, back and chest.

The symptoms of a cold can be very different in nature, and it depends largely on the type of virus that has attacked our body. Coughing occurs very often during a cold (due to the involvement of the laryngeal and tracheal mucosa and discharge of secretions down the back of the throat). The secretion that flows into the larynx causes the cough and expectoration reflex to be stimulated. Swelling that affects our nose often closes the sinus opening and causes various types of infections and sinusitis. If the inflammation is very intense, it is accompanied by systemic symptoms in the form of:

1. fever;
2. malaise;
3. fatigue.

Cold phases

There are several phases of the disease in the course of a cold.

1. The vascular phase of the common cold: usually takes three to five days. During this period, viruses attack our body, which at all costs tries to activate its defense mechanisms. In this phase, the first symptoms of a cold appear: nasal vasodilation, runny nose, stuffy nose, and sometimes fever.
2. The cellular phase of colds: during this phase, the structure of cell mucus changes, the body is dehydrated, which makes us feel broken, we have no strength or desire for anything. Problems with the coughing up of mucus slowly begin, the runny nose changes, as does the nature of the cough. The patient feels a kind of fullness on the face (due to nasal obstruction) and problems with the sense of smell and hearing (worse taste, feeling of stuffy ears).
3. Phase three of colds: is a bacterial infection in which the discharge from the nose starts to turn green and smells bad. Patients also develop high temperatures during this phase. Unfortunately, it is necessary to administer an antibiotic, because if the disease is not cured, it may result in sinus or middle ear inflammation.

The first symptoms of a cold they appear one or two days after infection. Patients very often experience scratching, burning and dry nose during this period. This may indicate that our epithelium of the nasal mucosa has been attacked by viruses. Gradually, patients begin to experience an unpleasant sore throat, often accompanied by hoarseness.

Subsequently, a runny nose and sneezing begin to develop. As for a sore throat, it usually goes away after about two days. On the other hand, nasal discharge, which is watery at first, begins to become thicker and has a yellow or green color (this indicates a purulent nature of a runny nose). Some patients may also develop a cough and high fever (especially in the first days of a cold), ranging from 37–38 ° C. It is worth noting that high body temperature is more common in children.

However, the purulent nature of nasal discharge does not always require the use of antibiotics. Cough in a cold can be dry – here the secretion does not cough up – or moist, when the secretion is usually yellow or white.

It happens that the listed symptoms of a cold are accompanied pain in muscles, joints, fever, feeling broken – this may indicate that we have just contracted the flu. Management of flu and colds is similar, but flu testing is required to distinguish the two conditions. However, in most cases it is not necessary to perform testing, especially if you become ill during a flu pandemic.

Contact your doctor immediately if your symptoms are severe. He or she may ask you to take medications that work against the flu viruses. These types of preparations do not work against viruses that cause colds! To avoid complications from the disease, the best option is to stay home and rest in bed.

Check it out: Chronic rhinitis and its types

Choose also freeze-dried raspberries available on Medonet Market. You can buy them in proportions that are right for you to add to your tea or porridge later.

Take a hot bath in which you can add a few drops of eucalyptus or pine oil to the water (the aromatic steam will open the airways).

Rub the chest with some warming preparation, put on warm pajamas, woolen socks and go to bed. Use air humidifiers with great intensity. Overheated and dry air makes cold symptoms more troublesome, for example a scratchy throat or a stuffy nose. In addition, dried mucosa is more susceptible to bacterial contamination.

Check: 5 health problems caused by dry mixing air

The preparations available on the market do not shorten the duration of the disease, but only alleviate its symptoms. Below are shown practical recommendations for everyone who has been affected by a cold.

1. If you have a cold – stay at home.
2. Avoid any physical activity and exertion during illness.
3. If you have persistent cold symptoms – stay in bed.
4. A cold is a good excuse to drink plenty of fluids, for example still water. Try to avoid carbonated drinks that are very chilled previously kept, e.g. in the refrigerator.
5. To relieve unpleasant symptoms, take medications (only when needed). Do not take any antibiotics without consulting your doctor first!
6. If you have a fever or headache – take paracetamol. It is definitely a safer preparation compared to other painkillers. If paracetamol does not help, you can take a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as aspirin, ibuprofen or naproxen. Caution should be exercised in patients with peptic ulcer disease!
7. Do you have a stuffy nose and runny nose? Oral use may be helpful preparations containing pseudoephedrine (be careful in heart patients!) or intranasal medications that contain xylometazoline or oxymetazoline (note – never use for more than a few days!). Short-term relief can be provided by inhalation of steam or agents containing saline.
8. Lozenges, which you can get at any pharmacy without a prescription, are ideal for a sore throat. You can also gargle with special salt solutions, or drink milk with honey in tiny sips.
9. In a situation where the high fever has not gone away for a few days, you have a cough, the headache is severe and does not stop, you have problems with breathing, you have chest pain, and a sore throat even causes swallowing – see your doctor. Also if the symptoms of a cold last longer than ten days or worsen after five days of illness, consult a specialist.
10. Many preparations recommended for flu and colds are a mixture of the above-mentioned drugs. They do not affect the course of a cold, they only alleviate the symptoms or eliminate them completely.
11. If you are around the affected person, try to wash your hands more often, avoid touching your nose, eyes and mouth with your hands.

Find out more: Nasal drops – indications, contraindications, addiction, alternatives

In conclusion, see your doctor if:

1. you have shortness of breath and bouts of wheezing;
2. you have a high temperature;
3. you have severe cough accompanied by the coughing up of purulent discharge (the cough lasts more than a few days);
4. you have severe pain in the head and sinuses (around the nose, forehead and jaw);
5. you have severe earache;
6. cold symptoms last longer than 10 days.

Do not exceed the recommended dose of the drug and take more than 4 g per day, or if we take the preparation for more than three days – 2,5 g (i.e. five tablets). Overdosage of paracetamol can cause serious damage to liver function. Attention! Paracetamol is included in many combination medications.

Be careful: Paracetamol poisoning – when can it occur?

In addition to paracetamol in colds, you can also take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which are more effective, but cause greater side effects. The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs include:

1. ibuprofen; usually 1 tablet (ie 200 mg, “forte” tablets containing 400 mg of the drug are also available), then every 6 hours if necessary;
2. naproxen (1 tablet, ie 250–500 mg, then, if necessary, 1 tablet every 6–8 hours).

For example side effects resulting from the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs we include:

1. damage to the gastric mucosa (preparations should not be taken by patients with peptic ulcer disease);
2. severe breathlessness in patients with asthma (about ten percent of asthma sufferers are said to have what is known as aspirin asthma, which is what occurs in people who are allergic to aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; they can use acetaminophen without fear).
3. renal dysfunction in patients who have chronic kidney disease.

Aspirin, despite popular opinion, has no effect on the course of colds, and has an effect similar to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Acetylsalicylic acid has an analgesic and antipyretic effect.

Lozenges work well for a sore throat, Cholinex, Septolete, Cholisept or Validol are available in the pharmacy. In these preparations, we can find another anti-inflammatory drug or menthol. Always read the leaflet before taking these medicines, or if you have any doubts, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Some medications for a sore throat, such as Neo-angin, Sebidin, or Strepsils, contain medications that are antimicrobial. they do not have an analgesic effectwhich many patients do not know! However, they should not be abandoned for this reason, as sometimes just sucking a tablet brings the patient a lot of relief.

It is also worth using home remedies for a sore throat:

1. milk with honey;
2. gargling with saline solution.

Nasal congestion and runny nose – fight

The procedure in this case consists in taking a certain group of drugs, including several groups.

1. Preparations that constrict the vessels of the nasal mucosa are applied topically (xylometazoline or oxymetazoline). They affect the improvement of nasal patency, on the other hand they must not be used for more than a few daysas long-term use causes damage to the nasal mucosa).
2. Oral preparations causing vasoconstriction of the nasal mucosa. These types of drugs contain pseudoephedrine, which is related to amphetamine. Drugs improve nasal obstruction and stimulate the brain. Such preparations should not be administered to patients who have severe arterial hypertension and ischemic heart disease. It is worth knowing that pseudoephedrine is a component of most preparations that are advertised as beneficial “against flu and colds”.
3. Antihistamines, for example dexbromphenyramine, cetirizine – have a weak effect, but improve nasal obstruction, and are used as a component of multi-drug preparations. In some people, this type of medicine can make you feel very sleepy.
4. Nasal saline solutions (Physidose, Tetrisal, Solnasin).
5. Sterile seawater, such as Sterimar or Marimer.
6. Water vapor inhalation.

In order to support the body during a cold, it is worth taking an inhalation bath. For children, a bubble bath – a bath lotion for children against colds – will work for this purpose.

Cough – fighting

Cough suppressants can be used to treat cough during colds. Among them we can mention:

1. butamirate;
2. dextromethorphan;
3. levodropropizine.

However, these remedies are not very effective in combating cough caused by a cold. If the cough is accompanied by lung secretions, it is recommended to use ambroxol or guaifenesin.

Preparations and drugs that affect immunity and the course of the disease

So far, it has not been confirmed whether vitamin C, rutoside and homeopathic remedies, taken very often to treat and alleviate the symptoms of colds, are really effective. All data on the effectiveness (or not) of zinc preparations in the treatment of colds are contradictory. For this reason and because of side effects such as dysgeusia, their use is not recommended.

In the initial development of colds, it may be beneficial to use medications containing Echinacea (Ecchinacea purpurea). Although the research results are inconclusive, some of the preparations have been shown to be effective.

As a support for the body during a cold, it is worth using red elm bark 50g – the YANGO dietary supplement available on Medonet Market.

Antibiotics for the treatment of colds

In the treatment of colds, the use of antibiotics is ineffective and is actually contraindicated. Contrary to appearances, the overuse of antibiotics may cause the multiplication of strains of bacteria resistant to treatment, which is a kind of difficulty in the treatment of diseases in which the use of antibiotics is absolutely effective (e.g. pneumonia). The presence of purulent nasal discharge does not indicate the bacterial origin of the common cold and is also not an indication for the use of an antibiotic.

The medications recommended for “flu and cold” usually contain two or three medications. Most of them contain paracetamol or a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, antihistamine, pseudoephedrine or vitamin C. These preparations do not affect the course of the disease, they only alleviate its symptoms.

By applying multi-drug preparations, you should familiarize yourself with their composition and contraindications to the use of individual drugs. Antihistamines can cause:

1. somnolence;
2. disturbance of concentration and impairment of the ability to drive motor vehicles.

Pseudoephedrine, which is found in most of these drugs, can cause insomnia, headache, agitation, increase blood pressure and be harmful in patients with ischemic heart disease.

A large amount of drugs that are designed to strengthen the immune system has no effect on the risk of catching a cold. Scientific evidence shows that some preparations containing Echinacea can have a beneficial effect on the common cold. There is also a lot of talk about the beneficial effects of garlic, surely many times your mothers gave you milk with garlic and honey. The popular vitamin C reduces the risk of catching a cold only in people who engage in intense physical activity (e.g. footballers, marathon runners).

Therefore, appropriate dietary supplements for immunity can also reduce the risk of catching a cold. It is worth getting acquainted with their composition and making sure that they contain vitamins, minerals as well as herbal and plant ingredients in accordance with the individual needs.

Are you looking for a complementary immune supplement? The elderberry flower infusion, which you can find at Medonet Market, has a positive effect on the immune system.

How to protect yourself from colds?

So how to protect yourself from colds, prevent and not get sick?

1. Take regular physical activity (not very intense), because competitive training increases the risk of catching a cold.
2. Take care of your immunity, you can support it with dietary supplements.
3. In autumn and winter, try to wear thermal clothing.
4. Use warming and strengthening herbal teas, such as Ginger Bio Yogi Tea, Green Tea Ginger Lemon Bio Yogi Tea or Ginger Lemon Bio Yogi Tea, which you can buy at a discount at Medonet Market.
5.  In times of increased risk of catching a cold, try to avoid crowded places where it is easier to get a battery or viral infection. At school, at work, in the library or on the tram, try not to touch your nose or eyes with your hands.
6. If there are people with a cold in your environment, avoid contact with them.
7.  Take care of hygiene! Wash your hands with soap for 15 to 30 seconds.
8. You can also use alcohol-based disinfectants for hygiene purposes.
9. People with a cold are most often infected when symptoms of the disease begin to appear.

Facts and myths about the common cold

Myths about the common cold

1. Fasting is the best option for colds and fever. Falsehood! Nothing could be more wrong, starving yourself will not help us get rid of the fever. You should eat wisely and healthy to stay healthy.
2. Antibiotics will cure the common cold. We cannot cure a cold with antibiotics, because they only work against bacterial infections.
3. Bad, rainy and cold weather makes us catch a cold. Nonsense. It is selected viruses that cause colds, the weather outside does not matter in the slightest. We catch a cold in the autumn and winter as well as in the spring and summer.

FACTS about colds

1. Inhalations are effective in treating colds. Truth. The vapor inhaled by us helps to thin the mucus, thanks to which the previously blocked airways open up, which allows us to breathe more easily.
2. Gargling with saline: Helps with colds. This method has long been effective because a sore throat can be relieved by rinsing it with warm salt water.
3. Broth is the best for colds. This is not a joke, it is true. Warm broth hydrates the body well, which in turn results in faster recovery.
4.  Snot regularly. Continuous sniffling can cause sinus infections, so blow your nose as often as possible during a cold.
5. An air humidifier is useful. True, an air humidifier relieves the feeling of a stuffy nose during a cold.

So far, a large group of scientists has proven that sex not only gives us pleasure, but also gives us health. Surely, many people have heard these popular arguments that for our own good and health, we should have sex as often as possible.

Currently, we are in the autumn and winter period, during which we encounter a large number of colds and other infections, which we can get infected literally everywhere. Of course, the fact is that there are many home remedies for colds, but do any of them give us the pleasure of sex? Is it really possible that making love to another person helps protect us from colds and viruses?

Researchers at Wilkes University in Pennsylvania had the idea to investigate the relationship between having sex and the frequency of catching a cold. How did the results come out? Well, it turned out that people who lead a rich sex life on a daily basis have a much higher level of immunoglobulin type A in the body. It is these immunoglobulins that protect our mucous membranes from microbes and infections that cause colds.

During sex, our adrenal glands produce cortisone, which in turn helps to produce leukocytes. Leukocytes strengthen our immunity and protect us against viruses. If we don’t want to catch a cold – let’s love each other as much as possible! Sex is the most pleasant way to fight microbes lurking on us.

Read also:

1. Flu or cold? Find out which one caught you
2. Colds in pregnancy – how to treat? What to use?
3. Is flu without a fever possible?

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