Have you got a tickle in your throat, a cloudy head and an aching body? If you still haven’t paid attention, do it now, because you might be coming down with a common cold once again because of your colleagues or family members. Doctors say an average adult gets three common colds per year, each lasting an average one week. And now that the winter is bidding goodbye, and the season is changing once again, common cold is hitting everyone at the workplace and homes and is spreading like a viral, literally.
Catching a common cold means putting your life on hold for a day or two and this can therefore be difficult for all those who have demanding office hours and hectic work schedules. But you know what.. you don’t have to surrender to this annoying common cold and running nose. Most of the remedies will tell you what to do when the common cold has hit you but we will tell you exactly how you can stop a cold before it takes a hold you.
Wash your hands- Wash hands often and teach everyone in your household to wash their hands frequently. Frequent washing of the hands helps reduce the spread of germs. Make sure the person who is down with a common cold in your house washes his/her hands often and thoroughly. Use sanitizers even after washing the hands. Also spray sanitizers in and around your home. This should include all frequently touched objects.
Avoid the sick- We are not asking to stop talking to your friends and family but if you know your friend in office or your brother at home is sick, just try to stay away or at least be wary around them. 90% of the people who catch a common cold during the winter months, catch it from somebody. Common cold spreads very fast and goes very slowly. So be careful! The first few days of the common cold are riskier as common cold is most contagious during this period.
Eat healthy- Keeping yourself healthy doesn’t only mean taking a balanced and vitamin rich diet, it also means getting enough shuteye every night. Adequate amount of sleep at night will always keep your immunity levels high so it can fight off infection, and you don’t give in to illness.
Rest- If you’ve noticed symptoms of common cold, take a day off from work and rest! This might sound stupid at first and your work hours might not even allow it, but experts always advise taking a day off to relax and rest to not let the problem get aggravated. Take a day off so you don’t have to fall terribly sick and take three to four days off later. Your body can fight off the virus better if you’re well-rested.
Exercise- Ok you listened to us and took a day off from work but now we are suggesting you exercise. This is a little too much! Isn’t it? Well no, it’s not. Don’t just be in bed and sleep at home all day long. Try to get in at least 30 minutes of exercise. Run on the treadmill for 15 mins and do some breathing exercises for another 15 mins. Do yoga if you prefer it more than the treadmill. Light exercise during sickness always boosts the immunity. Remember, a healthy body is a strong body, is a happy body!
Homemade meds- Most of us feel like grabbing a painkiller or antibiotics as soon as the cold starts to kick-in, thinking it’s the best way to ward off the common cold. But why take all those meds when simple home remedies can cure you way better than any chemicals. Inhale some steam to take out all the blocked mucus in the nose and chest, have honey and ginger juice for the throat, eat a vitamin C, zinc and protein rich meal, such as a wholesome salad, drink lots of fluids, be it orange or pineapple juice or just plain simple hot water, gargle with salt water and keep your nose clean.
Photo by Typexnick.
