Fall has come a time when most expect to catch a cold sooner or later. The BezirksRundSchau has at the Riedberg pharmacy in Ried asked how best to protect yourself from it.
REED. A cold or a flu-like infection is usually caused by viruses that enter the body in the mouth and throat area. A cold usually goes away after eight to ten days. “Headache, body aches, fever, runny nose, sore throat, hoarseness, cough, exhaustion, feeling cold and shivering” are the typical symptoms of a cold, says Bettina Kobler from the Riedberg pharmacy. This list has probably become very well known lately, since it is important to consider whether you have Corona. “The quickest way to tell whether it’s Corona or a normal cold is to use a rapid Covid-19 test,” says the pharmacist. The real flu, also known as influenza, must be differentiated from this.
How to protect against it?
“Sufficient rest, sleep and regular exercise in the fresh air are very important for strengthening our immune system,” explains Kobler. In addition, a balanced diet that supplies the body and immune system with vitamins and minerals and drinking enough is crucial when it comes to preventive protection against a common cold.
“Hand hygiene also plays a major role here, during Corona we learned to wash our hands regularly and to disinfect them. Even for banal infections, this is a simple way to reduce the risk of infection,”
emphasizes the expert.
What to do if you do?
“The most important thing is to give yourself and your body a break so that the immune system can work properly,” explains the specialist. Stress is not beneficial here and slows down the healing process. Depending on which symptoms occur, fever medication, decongestant nasal sprays, cough syrup or lozenges can help. A cold bath with essential oils is also effective – however, the bath should not be too hot to protect the circulation. If a very high fever, severe breathing problems or severe symptoms persist for more than a week, a doctor’s visit is necessary. It is important to strengthen the immune system:
“The good old chicken soup, as grandma used to know it, has a beneficial effect and strengthens the immune system”.
Ginger also stimulates the immune system. It can be used in tea, for example: the pharmacist recommends “a tea made from linden or elderberry blossoms as a sweat treatment with a slice of fresh ginger”. Vitamins such as zinc, selenium, vitamin C or vitamin D also have a supporting effect.
A good medicine chest is half the battle
“Propolis spray or drops work very quickly for sore throats. If the nose and bronchi are full of mucus, inhaling salt water or essential oils such as eucalyptus or thyme helps to clear the airways,” says Kobler. The nose can also be rinsed directly with a salt water solution in order to free it from stuck mucus. If you have a cough, bronchial teas or cough syrups made from plantain, marshmallow, thyme or mullein are advisable.
“In the fall, everyone should check and fill their individual medicine chest to be prepared for the winter. You can get advice and tips on this in the pharmacy, where the individual person can be addressed in order to find the right remedies for every age group or special requirements to have at hand”,
according to the expert.