You know that dreaded feeling when you’re about to get a cold. It’s inevitable, but how can you stop it from affecting your whole body?
The average adult gets three colds a year, each one averaging about nine days. Here are some tips to help stop a cold in its tracks:
– Keep yourself hydrated. Drink plenty of fluids, especially water and juice. This will help with symptoms like a sore throat and a stuffy nose. Also, if you have a scratchy throat, try gargling with salt water. “The salt draws out excess water in your throat├óΓé¼Γäós tissues, reducing the inflammation, and clears mucous and irritants from the back of the throat,” says Philip Hagen, M.D.
– Keep your nose clean by using nasal spray. Or even try taking a hot shower to keep the nasal passages open. The steam will soften mucous and clear any blockage.
– Use over-the-counter pain medication to get rid of headaches and body aches. However, skip the cough medicine. Honey has the same effect and you can just stir a tablespoon or two in your tea. Many over-the-counter cough medicines, including throat lozenges and sprays, have yet to be proven effective.
– Try to do light activity. Maintaining a regimen of light exercise will keep your heart rate pumping while also boosting the immune system.
Cold and flu season is definitely here so hopefully these tips will help you in having a healthy and disease-free holiday season!
[Image via AP Images.]