Cold
and cough is not a disease rather it is a symptom that something somewhere is
not right in the body. It is, in fact, human body's way of removing foreign
material or mucus from the lungs and upper airway passages. It is arguably the
most common illness in humans. Viruses enter the air from the nasal passages of
infected persons and when inhaled by others, may cause them to become the
patient of cold and cough. These spread from person to person through tiny
droplets of mucus dropped into the atmosphere by the infected persons (when
they sneeze or talk).
Old
people and children are, in fact, more vulnerable to the common cold.
Especially in winters, their immune system gets weakened on one hand and on the
other hand, low temperature & cold triggers many respiratory problems and
illnesses.
Here
are some of the very basic steps that you can take for the prevention of cold
and cough:
Regularly wash
your hands
A person having cold & cough, when
sneezes, talks or negligently touches his hands with nose and then uses objects
of daily use, then the germs are invariably left on such objects. So one of the
most potent remedy is to wash your hands on regular intervals, if have cough or
cold.
Use tissue
papers or towels
Note that viruses may stick to your
hands so do not use them while coughing or sneezing. Use a ‘use and throw tissue
paper’ or if you do not have one, cough or sneeze into the inside of your
elbow, it is almost not likely to come in contact with other people.
Avoid Alcohol
and Smoking
These will weaken your immune system
further and will make you more likely to get infections. Alcohol also
dehydrates your body and smoking, in fact, dries out the passages in your nose.
It affects your cilia -- the delicate hairs that line your nose & lungs and
help sweep away cold and flu viruses.
Disinfect your
place of living
You can often disinfect certain things
and areas like tabletops, doorknobs, and remote controls; as cold germs can
live on surfaces for hours. Google it and you will find some simple solutions.
However, there is no way to keep a household sterile, so do not go berserk over
it.
Keep yourself
hydrated
Drink plenty of water or juices to
keep your immune system working at its optimal level. If you let your body
dehydrate, then keep this in mind that more energy is drained for keeping the
body sound let alone fighting the germs.
Take healthy
diet
You must consume a healthy diet, which
contains all the minerals, vitamins, carbohydrates, proteins amongst other
essential elements. This is necessary to keep your immune health in good shape.
Avoid processed foods like maida, and fast foods like burgers, pizza. They
provide extra-unwarranted fats but are not healthy for your body.
Maintain a
healthy lifestyle
Always maintain a healthy lifestyle, including
adequate sleep, good nutrition, and physical exercise. It ensures that your
immune system is in good condition and ready to fight any kind of infection.
Do Yoga
regularly
Certain Yog practices, including Pranayama, Jalneti, Sutraneti when done regularly, prevent sinus congestion
& mucus formation, cleanse the nasal passage, and prevent cold
inflammation.
Take Herbal
Beverages
Avoid regular tea; it is, in fact,
harmful for the people living in tropical environments like that of India and
South East Asia. Instead, take herbal concoctions or beverages, which are
easily available in the market. These beverages increase your immunity and
boost your reserve strength of the body.
Utilize your
kitchen
There are many things in your kitchen,
which are great barriers to cold and flu, use them. Tulsi, Ginger, Giloy,
Daalchini, Garlic are some such foods, which you can consume on a regular
basis.
Control stress buildup
Research has proven that people with
emotional stress have weakened immune systems and are more likely to catch a
cold. So try to relive your stress, be creative, smile, play, enjoy life and be
happy.
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