COMMON COLD:
Common cold is a frequently occurring problem
affecting the nose, throat, caused by viruses or allergy. On an average one attack
of common cold may last from 3 to 10 days.
Spread of infection:
·
Virus exists
in infected person’s nasal discharge or sputum.
·
Handkerchief,
pencils, telephone receiver, hand shaking etc., may also spread the virus from the
infected person to others.
·
Virus enters
body through nose either directly or by rubbing eyes.
Factors which predispose and cause allergy:
·
Exposure
to cold weather, Sudden change of temperature
·
Eating cold
food/ cold drinks
·
Pollens,
perfumes, animal dander etc
Contact with infected person may also cause
an attack of cold.
Sign & symptoms:
Running nose, Sneezing, Tickling sensation
in nose, Stuffed nose, Soreness in throat, Chills, Bodyache, Mild fever may be present.
COUGH:
Coughing is the body’s method of expelling
harmful material (a bit of food swallowed the wrong way, dust, excess mucus) from
the respiratory tract.
Coughing can be mild or severe, dry or
productive. The later brings up mucus or phlegm. A tickling cough without throat
soreness may be due to nervousness or cigarette smoking, may be an indication of
allergy, or may simply be the result of a lack of moisture.
A cough can be symptomatic of a wide range
of diseases that include chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, tuberculosis, hay fever,
asthma, chronic lung abscess, lung cancer, or it may be merely a symptom of the
common cold. Smokers may develop a chronic cough.
ORTHODOX MEDICINE:
For cold:
·
Oral decongestants,
nasal spray, nose drops- may provide temporary relief; many times nasal drops produce
rebound congestion.
·
Aspirin
or acetaminophen (Neurospas, Normospas) may relive aches and bring fever down. Acetaminophen
is preferred to treat children.
(Do not give aspirin or medications that
contain aspirin to anyone under age 21 who has the flu, as aspirin increases the
risk of developing Reye’s syndrome, a life-threatening neurological illness.)
(Side effects of acetaminophen: It enhances
anti-coagulant activity. It rarely causes nausea, dyspepsia and allergic skin reaction.
In very high doses it can cause hepatic or renal damage.)
·
An antibiotic
will be prescribed only a secondary bacterial infection develops in the ears, sinuses,
lungs elsewhere. In viral infection antibiotics don’t work. Repeated prescriptions
of antibiotics only succeed in lowering the individual’s immune status over a period
of time, thus predisposing the person to more frequent and severe attacks of cold
and cough.
For cough:
·
Treatment
depends on what prompts the coughing. A suppressant limits the coughing reflex.
An expectorant makes a cough less irritating by drawing more liquid into the mouth
and airways.
·
The following
are the side effects of some cough preparations:
Codeine linctus-
codeine may be addictive, thus encouraging abuse by young people and dependency
in older people. It may cause toxic poisoning reactions in children and may also
cause constipation.
Benadryl (Diphenydramine hydrochloride)- drowsiness and sedation. Contra-indicated- in children under one year, in heart disease, chronic bronchitis with
emphyma or over active thyroid disease.
SELF HELP:
·
Avoid exposure
to drafts or sitting in damp rooms. Keep rooms well ventilated and a comfortable
temperature.
·
Inhaling
steam will help to loosen the bronchial secretions that cause coughs.
·
Gargle salt
and hot water or gargling or drinking warm water boiled with tulsi leaves for a
sore throat/ cough.
·
A drop or
two of salt water can act as nasal drops without any rebound effect. ( 1tsp of salt
+ 8 ounces of water)
·
Do
not blow your nose too strongly as it may send the bacteria into your ears and contribute
to ear infection. The right way to blow your nose is gently, without holding your
nostrils shut.
·
Ajwain
has a remarkable power to open up clogged and congested nasal passages. Roast a
tablespoon of ajwain and tie it in a cloth and use for inhaling.
·
Stop
smoking.
·
Performing
yoga regularly can help relieve chest, stimulate healing and relax.
·
Eucalyptus
oil is a soothing external application for head colds.
·
Garlic
and onion have anti-viral effects. Onion and garlic soup is very effective. 2-3
garlic cloves daily in the morning removes cough & cold.
·
Ginger
juice with honey is very useful in cough and cold.
·
Lady’s
fingers are highly valuable in treating irritation of the throat and persistent
dry cough. This vegetable is rich in mucilage and acts as a drug to allay irritation,
swelling and pain. Cut pieces of 100 gm of lady’s fingers boiled in ½ lit. water to make decoction.
·
The
juice of holy basil leaves (tulsi) + ginger juice + lemon juice + turmeric powder
+ honey can be given to cut down the course of illness.
·
A
good home made cough syrup for irritating cough is 3 tsp honey + 2 tsp lime juice
+ 1 tsp brandy = mixed and 2 tsp given thrice a day. The mixture is to be prepared
fresh daily.
·
Consume
adequate fluids at least 6-8 glasses a day- the body needs extra water to help flush
itself of the cellular ‘waste’ created by its antiviral efforts. Hot beverages,
broth and soups help to relieve sinus and chest congestion.
·
Drinks
liquid like:
·
Soups:
chicken, vegetables made with onion, garlic, ginger etc.
·
Plain
water
·
Fruit juices: lemon, orange, pineapple, black current etc.
·
Vegetable
juices : carrot, beet, tomato, green pepper, plus
onion and garlic juice in small doses added to vegetable juices.
·
Avoid
milk products and sugar, which may increase mucus production.
·
Turmeric
with its antiseptic properties is a household medicine for curing chronic cough.