The common cold, also known as a viral upper respiratory tract infection, is a self limited contagious illness that can be caused by a number of different types of viruses. More than 200 different types of viruses are known to cause the common cold. It is the most common infectious disease in humans there is no known cure, but it is very rarely fatal.
Collectively cold, influenza, and other infections with similar symptoms are included in the diagnosis of influenza like illness. Often, influenza and the common cold are mistaken for each other,
Causes of Common Cold:
The common cold is caused by any of a number of viruses that can involve the upper respiratory tract. As your body reacts against the attacking virus, you get the symptoms of a cold including nasal congestion, sneezing, and sniffles.
Symptoms of the Common Cold:
Symptoms of the common cold include nasal stuffiness or drainage, sore or scratchy throat, sneezing, hoarseness, cough, and perhaps a fever and headache. Many people with a cold feel tired and achy. These symptoms will typically last anywhere from three to 10 days.
Cold Remedies:
* Drink plenty of fluids to help break up your congestion. Drinking water or juice will prevent dehydration and keep your throat moist. You should drink at least 8 to 10 eight ounce glasses of water daily.
* Inhale steam to ease your congestion and drippy nose. Hold your head over a pot of boiling water and breathe through your nose. Be careful. If the steam burns your nose, breathe in more slowly.
* Use saline nasal sprays or make your own salt water rinse to irrigate your nose. Salt water rinsing helps break nasal congestion while also removing virus particles and bacteria from your nose.
* Staying warm and resting when you first come down with a cold or the flu helps your body direct its energy toward the immune battle. This battle taxes the body. So give it a little help by lying down under a blanket to stay warm if necessary.
* Take half a teaspoon of ginger juice with half a teaspoon of honey, three times a day (morning, noon and night). In winter, warm the mixture by mixing a teaspoon of warm water in it.
* Take Vitamin C and Zinc lozenges this can help stop the cold from going through the entire process.
* Do not use handkerchiefs, use paper tissues and flush them after use, the cold virus lives for several hours, thus increasing the risk of re infecting yourself.
* Wild indigo is an antiviral and antibiotic for infections, it stimulates the immune system, and cures chronic sore throats.
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