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Sick Treatment: Taking Care of the Common Cold
With the seasons changing once again, cold and flu season is striking again.
But never fear! A cold may not be as hard to fight as you think!
With a few easy, tried-and-true techniques, you can get back on your feet in no time!
Stay Hydrated!
I'm sure you've heard this time and time again, but there's a reason for that.
Drinking water and other non-sugary fluids allow you to stay hydrated throughout the cold or flu. Though many people enjoy Gatorade or Powerade while sniffling in bed, they contain sugars that will not benefit your body.
I also have to warn against drinking too much water. Yes, water is good, but too much could actually make your cold or flu worse than it already is. So, keep track of how much water you should be drinking and stay within that zone to make sure your body is getting the proper amount of hydration!
Rest
Another tried-and-true advice you have heard your entire life. Just because you have heard it a million times, does not mean you should ignore it!
Sleeping allows your body to heal itself, whether you're sick or not. If you ignore how tired you are while you are fighting the flu, you may end up prolonging and/or make your illness worse!
I put sleeping in bold here because sleeping and laying in bed are two different things. Remember that.
Eat
No matter how bad you feel, you need to eat something such as soup. Especially chicken noodle soup. There have been studies that prove then chicken noodle soup actually helps you get better! Canned or homemade, there are incredible benefits to it (and not just the yummy taste).
If you would like, you can check out this article to find how exactly how chicken noodle helps!
Medication
This one can be a little on the line. Yes, you can take a bit of OTC (over the counter) medications, such as Tylenol and Pepto Bismol, but do not, I repeat, do not take antibiotics. I cannot stress this one enough. I don't know how many of you remember your high school Health class, but I'm going to explain why in the same way my teacher did when some kid asked:
NO. NO, NO, NO. Don't do it. That can end up making everything worse. NO.
So, simple to say, she and many doctors advise against it. Why? You see, antibiotics are designed to fight bacteria. The flu or cold, however, are viruses. Instead of killing off the virus, it could end up making it worse (that does not mean to stay away from antibiotics altogether, just listen to your doctor and learn the difference between bacteria illnesses and viral illnesses).
Tea and Steam
Sometimes you can get a sore throat or a stuffy nose when you're sick. That's normal but annoying, isn't it?
Well, why not some warm tea and a nice shower or bath? Some tea blends have anti-inflammatory properties to reduce pain and swelling, others can contain antioxidants that can help fight back the cold and flu altogether! A warm shower can get you to relax, therefore giving you better sleep. Not only that but the steam can help moisturize your nasal passages to ease congestion.
If you do decide to make yourself a cup of tea, try adding honey instead of sugar as a sweetener. Honey is a natural antibacterial and a fantastic food to help soothe your rough throat!
Getting sick happens to everyone, but that doesn't mean you need to suffer for a long time! I hope these simple tricks help you and those you know defeat that common cold.
© 2018 Kambriann Briggs