As it gets colder outside, I get more susceptible to catching the cold. Being sick is never fun, not from the scratchy feeling in your throat nor the runny nose. Besides taking medicines to feel better, here are some other ways to make your cold run a smoother course.
1. Soothe a sore throat and ease a cough.
From that slight scratchy feeling in your throat to a full-on ache, sore throats are the worse but coughs may be even worst: they can hurt, they're persistent and they draw lots of attention in public. Many of the same treatments work for both of them so try these tips next time you sense cold symptoms:
- Drink a lot of water. Not only will this keep you hydrated, it can help soothe your throat, repress a cough and thin out any post-nasal drip that’s clogging your respiratory system. Room temperature water is best.
- Warm drinks like tea, milk, hot chocolate or even chicken soup are perfect. Try to avoid the coffee though as it can leave you dehydrated.
- A tablespoon of honey helps in the way a cough syrup might as it coats the throat and soothes the pain as well as repressing coughs just as effectively. Plus it tastes better.
- Cough drops are a must have. They’re perfect to throw into your bag or pocket and they come in all sorts of flavors. My favorite are the vitamin-C laden citrus one and the minty ones can also freshen your breath!
- Salt water gargle: The salt in the water will help calm down swelling and can help thin out any mucus that’s there too.
2. Deal with a stuffy or runny nose.
A runny nose is both gross and very annoying and a stuffy nose makes it impossible to breath but hopefully these tips will help you handle it better!
- Treat yourself to the luxurious type of tissues: soft and lotion-infused as they’ll be nicer to the skin around your nose .Keep a pack of tissues with you where ever you go and a box by your nightstand too.
- Nasal decongestants are designed to help with stuffiness; specifically, they help you breathe better by decreasing the swelling in your nasal passageways.
- Prop your pillow up at night as this will help drain mucus better and prevent post-nasal drip which can lead to further throat infection.
- A humidifier will be your best friend since it will keep the air moist which will help to thin out mucus.
- Warm showers will also have this affect, plus they're just nice to take.
- A vapor rub on your chest at night is supposed to make it easier to breathe although there is some debate on the effectiveness of this product.
3. Recovery.
You want your body to heal as fast and as soon as possible, so you’ve got to allow yourself to recover and boost your immune system. Here are some tips:
- Sleep: Rest allows you to recover faster and who doesn’t like to take naps when they're not feeling well?
- Skip on the exercise: If you want to build your immune system, 3-4 days without the dumbbells is a sacrifice you have to make!
- Try to add these power foods into your diet to boost your immune system: garlic, raw honey, fish oil, turmeric milk, bell pepper (not good for a sore throat though) spinach, oranges and citrus fruit.
- Herbal teas can also help to aid your recovery and help you feel fresh. Some good ones to try are peppermint, chamomile, lemon balm, elderberry, licorice root, slippery elm, ginger and green tea.
- Warm bathes can help you relax. Add some bath salts to help ease muscle tension and reduce inflammation.
- Relax and take a day off: stay in bed, read a book, meditate or watch a movie. On a sick day, you definitely deserve a break!
Overall, your main goals for treatment fall under easing the discomfort of cold symptoms and allowing recovery to take place as soon as possible. Being sick can really ruin an otherwise good day so try out these tips and treat yourself. Good luck!
