Having a cold is awful. You always have those few days building up to it where you can feel yourself getting ill, and you know there’s nothing you can do about it. A cold does range from a slight sniffle to a constant stream of fluid, headache and cough. But it’s something that you just have to deal with. Luckily there are some things that you can do to try and shake the cold as soon as possible. Some things are obvious but most people don’t do them just because they either don’t think it works or can’t be bothered.
Medication
Antibiotics are used too often and people are easily becoming immune to the helpful effects that it has. So if you’re going to take medication for your cold then stick to paracetamol for the pain. If your glands are swollen then ibuprofen might be the better option. If you’re taking any cough medicine then make sure you’re not double dosing with another medication.
GP
If your cold is terrible it might be worth checking in with the doctor to make sure that it isn’t anything worse. If you don’t want to make an appointment, can’t make yourself leave your bed, or don’t have the time, then why not talk to a doctor online? GPs powered by babylon is one example of an online service where you can video chat with a doctor at any time you need.
Food
You might not feel like eating, it might even hurt to do so, but making sure your body is receiving the right vitamins and nutrients is a massive thing. You need to give your body the right stuff to fight the infection. Keep the food plain and hot, soup is perfect, plus it’s easy to make and you won’t have to slave away in the kitchen. If you are going to eat a lot of soup, then make a big batch out of fresh ingredients and either freeze or refrigerate the portions – depending on how quickly you’re going to eat it all.
Fluids
Any sort of illness can quickly dehydrate you, so make sure that you are drinking plenty. And not just water. Orange juice is full of the good stuff, and hot tea like mint or ginger can be great to help clear your sinuses.
Steam
Steam is so good for clearing your sinuses and shifting the rubbish off your chest. Take a hot bath and relax in the tub with some essentials oils. Or you can fill a basin with hot water, lean your face into the steam with a towel over your head to trap the steam. As well as being great for your cold, it is also great for your skin.
Sleep
It has to come as no surprise that sleep is an amazing healer. Not only do you get to be unconscious and not be in pain, your body also has the time to focus on beating the infection. You still need to get some fresh air and move around, so make sure you leave your sick bed everyday – relocate to the couch if you need to rest -but you are going to want to nap, so make sure you’re comfy.
XOXO
Debbie
