Contents
General description of the disease
Runny nose (medical name – rhinitis) Is an inflammatory process of the mucous membrane that occurs in the nasal cavity.
The causative agents of the common cold are microbes and viruses such as streptococci, staphylococci.
Types, causes and symptoms of the common cold
- Catarrhal… The reasons are viruses, dirty air, reduced immunity, mucous membrane, which is seeded with bacteria. With such a runny nose, a moderate amount of nasal mucus secreted, a reduced level of smell, and shortness of breath are observed.
- Atrophic… The reason for its occurrence is a deficiency of vitamins and iron in the body, genetic predisposition, surgical interventions (changes in the shape of the nose, trauma, and so on). In the nasal cavity, constant dryness is felt and an unpleasant odor is heard, there are many dry “crusts”.
- Allergic (seasonal). Symptoms: itching in the nasal cavity, the nose constantly itches, it feels like someone is “tickling”, the mucus is transparent and liquid, red skin around the nose, peels off the skin, often accompanied by tears.
- Vasomotor runny nose is often observed in people with hypotension, with disorders in the endocrine system, with problems with neurocirculation, with autonomic disorders. It manifests itself in the form of variable nasal congestion and periodic discharge of mucus from the nasal cavity.
- Medicamentous – arises from the uncontrolled intake of alcoholic beverages, psychotropic and antipsychotic drugs (respectively, tranquilizers and antipsychotics), with the abuse of nasal drops.
- Hypertrophic… The reason is hypertrophy of the soft tissues of the nose. With it, breathing through the nose is disturbed.
Stages of the common cold:
- 1 reflex (dry) – accompanied by discomfort in the nose, dryness, it becomes difficult to breathe, the patient sneezes repeatedly at a time, cannot stop sneezing;
- 2 3-4 days after infection – at this stage of the disease, the patient has an abundant discharge of fluid, many say that “flows from the nose”, the voice becomes nasal or hoarse, sometimes ears are blocked;
- 3 if the patient started treatment on time, then his condition improves, the discharge from the nose becomes thick, then disappears altogether. On average, they get sick with a runny nose within a week, but if a person’s immunity is high, it can be cured in 3 days. If the treatment is not started correctly or at the wrong time, a runny nose can develop from an acute form into a chronic form (otitis media, sinusitis).
Useful foods for a cold
With a runny nose, it is necessary to eat foods that will help rid the body of mucus that has accumulated in it. These products include:
- garlic;
- bow;
- horseradish;
- mustard;
- radish;
- ginger;
- fresh juices, especially carrot juice, cranberry juice, tea with honey and lemon, mint, sage, echinacea;
- fruits and berries that contain vitamins of group C (kiwi, rose hips, sea buckthorn, mountain ash, citrus fruits, viburnum, pomegranate).
Diet recommendations for colds:
- 1 it is necessary to eat fractionally (5 meals, but the portions should not be large);
- 2 drink at least 2-2,5 liters of water. It helps to cleanse the body of toxins, moisturizes the mucous membranes of the respiratory system, which helps to flush out microbes from them;
- 3 you need to eat a lot of liquid and soft foods, such as: soups, broths, jelly, cereals. Such food will be digested and absorbed faster, which will give the body more strength to overcome the disease (it will take less energy to digest food).
Folk remedies for the treatment of the common cold
Recipe 1 “Ginger drink”
Take 300 milliliters of boiled warm water, add 1 tablespoon of grated ginger and honey to it. Chop, strain off the ginger. This drink should be added 2 tablespoons of lemon or orange juice and a small pinch of ground black pepper. You can also add a couple of mint leaves.
Recipe 2 “Drops in the nose”
Drops of freshly squeezed beet juice, onions, garlic, aloe, Kalanchoe, cedar oil help well. It is worth instilling 3 drops every two hours.
Recipe 3 “Healing inhalations”
Pine buds, eucalyptus leaves and its essential oil, St. John’s wort, fir, oregano are well suited for inhalation.
To prepare an infusion for inhalation, you need to take two or three tablespoons of one of the above ingredients, boil in a saucepan with water, remove.
Set in front of you, tilt your head over the bowl, it is advisable to cover the head and the pan with a towel. Inhale the vapor deeply until it forms. You can also breathe in boiled potatoes.
Recipe 4 “Warming up the maxillary sinuses”
For this procedure, bags with heated salt, only boiled buckwheat porridge, jacket potatoes or eggs are well suited.
Recipe 5 “Broths”
For treatment, you can drink decoctions from:
- chamomile;
- St. John’s wort;
- mother and stepmother;
- motherwort;
- calendula flowers;
- turns;
- burdock;
- rose hips;
- viburnum;
- raspberries;
- sea buckthorn;
- black currant;
- licorice;
- eucalyptus;
- peppermint;
- sage.
You can make decoctions specifically from one plant, or cook from collecting herbs. You need to drink them half an hour before meals and before bedtime. You need to brew in a thermos overnight.
Recipe 6 “Hot foot baths”
You can soar your feet in mustard, sea salt and herbs. After that, you need to put on wool socks. It is advisable to do the procedure before bedtime.
Dangerous and harmful foods for a cold
Harmful products are those that help in the formation of mucus, namely:
- dairy products, especially milk, butter, margarine, cheese;
- meat products and semi-finished products made from them;
- eggs;
- flour products (pasta, pies, buns);
- starch and products containing it (potatoes);
- sweet, fatty, too salty and spicy;
- fast food.
You cannot pass, eat cold food, but you cannot eat too hot food and drink hot drinks (they irritate and take care of the mucous membrane, it is enough to take everything warm).
Attention!
The administration is not responsible for any attempt to use the information provided, and does not guarantee that it will not harm you personally. The materials cannot be used to prescribe treatment and make a diagnosis. Always consult your specialist doctor!