Facts You Need To Know About The Common Cold

As the colder months approach, so do the colds and flu viruses which render us bed-ridden for days. There are a number of factors which increase our risk of catching colds and viruses, such as cold weather, changes in immunity and our eating habits, and poor hygiene habits make us more susceptible to infections. It’s common knowledge that in order to fend off infections, we need to maintain a healthy lifestyle of plenty of exercise, drinking enough water each day, and getting the right balance of nutrients from a diet that’s rich in fruits and vegetables. But there are other things to consider. Here are the main factors you need to be aware of in order to stay healthy during cold and flu season.

Vitamin D deficiency

As the days become shorter, our exposure to direct sunlight also decreases. This lack of exposure to the sun can lead to a vitamin D deficiency which can weaken our immune system, leading us to become more susceptible to infections. Some food products are now fortified with this vital nutrient but there are also supplements available to help ensure you get your daily dose.

Cold air

The dry and cold air can dry out your nasal passages which can irritate the throat and lungs, leading to coughs and colds. You may even find that your struggle with your breathing during this season, as your nasal passages are often blocked. This is known as cold-induced asthma which can irritate the linings of your nose and throat which are there to protect the respiratory passages, which can trigger a cough.

Humid weather

In the summer, the hot weather leads to you sweating a lot more – this increases the chance of respiratory infections developing due to dust particles and sweat triggering a sore throat and a dry cough. Breathing is naturally affected because of congestion, particularly in crowded places.

Smog

Allergies due to breathing in smoggy air are common in the summer months, because smog contains a pollutant known as ozone which directly attacks your lung function. This causes inflammation of the protective lining of the lungs and can trigger asthma.  Coughing due to smog is often very painful as it causes uneasiness of the chest and throat.

Weather changes

Because of the way we naturally react to  weather changes, coughs triggered  during the summer months don’t go away easily. For example, during the winter we tend to keep warm, rest a lot and drink hot fluids to help encourage recovery. But in summer, we drink cold drinks and these increase the chance of a cold infection. It may even worsen your gastroesophageal reflux disease causing a cough.

Rainy season

It’s more common to catch a cold  during a rainy season, as the common cold during this season comes accompanied by headaches and sore throats which are due to damp weather. It’s during rainier months that we need to be more on our guard in terms of preventative measures and leading a healthier lifestyle, to try and  fight off any possible infections.

Climate changes

Because of erratic climate changes taking place all the time, people with a healthy immune system also catch respiratory infections. For example, with monsoons after heavy rainfall the weather can sometimes turn very hot. This can lead to a cough or cold due to infections, allergies and breathing problems, all made worse by the weather. changing so drastically.

Categories: allergies, colds, common, Infections, nasal passages, rainy season, respiratory infections, season, summer months, Throat, weather

Can Nasal Irrigation Help With Cold Relief?

We all suffer the same fate with a cold or bout of flu – a stuffy nose and blocked sinuses. It can be uncomfortable and even painful, but it can be difficult to know what to do about it besides relying on menthol rubs and handkerchiefs. Nasal irrigation works by washing out the nasal cavity with saline solution to remove any excess mucus and allergens. It can soothe a stuffy nose and can reduce the blockages in your sinuses which can be painful. You’ll need a container in which to store your saline solution – a bulb syringe can be found at your local pharmacy. If you’ve chosen a pre-filled bottle of solution, you’re good to go. If you’d prefer to mix your own, you’ll need to buy some saline solution powder and follow the directions on the packet. If you would rather make your own from scratch, mix a quarter to half a teaspoon of non-iodized salt to one to two cups of warm water, and add a pinch of baking soda to soften the salt. Use sterile or previously boiled water to ensure that it is infection-free. If you’re using a squeezy bottle or a syringe, you can no apply the solution.

Lean forward over the skin at around a 45 degree angle, and tilt your head so that one nostril is pointed towards the skin. Don’t tilt your head back though. Place the spout of the syringe just inside your nose, but don’t put it any further in that the width of your finger. Keeping your mouth open, gently squeeze the bottle or tilt to pour some of the solution into your nostril. Remember to breathe through your mouth rather than your nose.

The salt water will run through your nasal cavity and drain out of the other side – it may also drain into your mouth slightly. Remember to spit it out rather than swallow it. It won’t do any harm if it does go down your throat, but it won’t taste particularly pleasant! Gently blow your nose to remove the remainder of the solution, then repeat the process on the other nostril. Throw away the remaining solution when you’re done and thoroughly clean any equipment that you’ve used, before letting them air dry. It shouldn’t sting or burn, but if it does try using less salt in the solution and make sure that you’re using warm water – it shouldn’t be hot or cold. Keep your mouth open and make sure that you don’t accidentally ‘snort’ the solution. You may only have to follow this process a couple of times before you see results.

Studies have shown that long-term nasal irrigation can help to reduce the symptoms of colds and flu, as well as reducing sinus symptoms. Using a saline solution once a day can help to thin mucus and decrease post-nasal drip, as well as cleaning bacteria from the nasal cavity. Once your symptoms have disappeared you should be fine to use the solution just three times a week. If you find that you’re suffering with regular sinus problems or suffer quite badly with colds in the winter time, you may find that nasal irrigation is the right form of treatment for you. If you have an ear infection or a nostril which is blocked and hard to breathe through, you should refrain from this remedy. If you’re unsure if nasal irrigation is right for you, speak to your GP before embarking on this form of treatment.

Categories: colds, irrigation, mouth open, nasal, nasal cavity, nasal irrigation, remedy, saline solution, solution, stuffy nose, warm water

Polar Dares: Would You Go for a Swim in Winter?

Every year, my Dad does the Boxing Day Swim. As the name suggests, my Dad will – of his own free will – go to the beach the day after Christmas and swim in the ice-cold sea. Is there a problem with his mental wellbeing? Probably – but not according to wellness expert Greg Brian. The co-owner of BlogMutt and winner of the first annual Yahoo! Content Spotlight Award notes, ‘Those people jumping into frigid water with barely any clothing on aren’t really crazy at all. In fact, you probably know someone (within a sixth degree of separation) who does this ritualistic procedure once a week in winter or on New Year’s Day here in the United States.’ So why are people going for a December dip?

 

Swimming in ice cold water is a major trend in the US, with quite a few people in various states around the country belonging to an organisation called the Polar Bear Club. In this club, ice swimming is an annual tradition, but aside from this confusing fact another remains; most of the members in the Polar Bear Club are located in New York. This may be partly due to the fact that the lakes and rivers in New York have a more balanced temperature that’s better-suited for this type of swimming – and the Polar Bear Club members have to sign waivers that the organisation isn’t responsible if someone gets hypothermia or worse after being in the water. With this in mind, then, why on earth would you bother?

 

Brain notes, ‘You can officially mark down this outlandish procedure as a form of preventative medicine — at least according to those who adhere to the original principles behind the Polar Bear Club. The founder of the organisation was also a true-blue New Yorker by the name of Bernarr MacFadden who may be one of the most legendary originators of alternative health who’s been utterly forgotten from even the alternative health world of today. When he founded the PBC in 1903…he also touted the then-unheard-of procedure of swimming in lakes and rivers during the height of winter to help boost the immune system, supposedly help virility and used generally as a natural cure for depression.’

 

Rightfully, people were sceptical at first but, as Brian explains, ‘MacFadden managed to draw people in who (for generations now) have proof of not getting any colds, flu or any other illness during the year after taking a dip in frigid water on New Year’s Day. People with circulation problems say it helps them feel better—as well as alleviating the effects of arthritis. But MacFadden pointed out already back in the early 20th century that you have to swim in cold water several times a week to get the greatest benefits. With that, he single-handedly blew away the notion that you can catch cold or get pneumonia by swimming in cold water several times a week (while being careful on how long you’re in the water to avoid hypothermia).’

 

Obviously, this is contingent on what shape your health is in before you take the plunge. Brian says, ‘MacFadden wisely painted an accurate portrait (and still relevant today) of what preventative methods are rather than promoting the typical process you’d see in that era of quick-fix quackery…otherwise known as a panacea in a bottle.’ Brian adds, ‘Even though many who participate may say they do it just for the thrill as well as for charity, any of the few I’ve ever known who’ve done winter swimming says that it did help boost their immune system and prevented them from even having to get a flu shot let alone getting the flu.’ I guess it’s not time to put your swimming costume away just yet!

Categories: alternative health, bear club, club, colds, frigid water, Ice Swimming, people, polar, polar bear, Polar Bear Club, Swimming, Water

Have You Been Taken in By the Five Supplement Myths?

While we’re big on vitamin and mineral supplements these days, we don’t actually know a hell of a lot about them. In fact, there are plenty of myths floating around out there about vitamins, and how they benefit your wellness, but you may be putting your wellbeing at risk by taking them in large quantities. Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, it’s best to get the vitamins you need from your diet, rather than pills, but still you find yourself swaying towards supplement aisle for a quick fix. Let’s take a look at the common misconceptions about vitamins:

 

1. Getting more than your recommended dietary intake means you’ll be doing even more good for your wellness.

Just because small amounts of vitamins are good for you, it doesn’t follow that large amounts are even better. Less is more when it comes to vitamins, especially fat-soluble ones like vitamins A, D, E and K. These vitamins can be stored in your body, which means taking high doses over a long period of time can lead to harmful levels. Even the water-soluble ones can be damaging in high doses, as large amounts of vitamin B6, for example, has been linked with nerve damage.

 

2. Taking supplements is essential to prevent deficiencies and illness.

Your body can store vitamins, even if they’re only water-soluble ones, albeit for a shorter period of time. It will take months before a vitamin deficiency will affect your wellbeing, so it doesn’t matter if your healthy, balanced diet takes a dive here and there. As long as you usually eat a wide variety of fresh foods, an occasional lapse in good eating will not harm you. For some people, supplements do have a role to place. You may need certain supplements if you’re pregnant, on a long-term restrictive weight loss diet, or someone who suffers from malabsorption problems such as diarrhoea, celiac disease, cystic fibrosis or pancreatitis. If this is you, consult your doctor for more information – you should never start supplementing without your doctor’s advice.

 

3. Vitamin C can help to prevent colds.

Though the research into this subject has been exhaustive, there is still no strong evidence to suggest that vitamin C helps prevent the common cold. While studies have shown that taking more than 1,000mg of the vitamin every day can ease some of the symptoms and duration of a cold (making it about half a day shorter), even this does not prevent you catching a cold and can cause more damage than it lessens. Large doses of vitamin C can cause nausea, abdominal cramps, headaches, fatigue, kidney stones and diarrhoea, as well as messing with medical tests and your body’s ability to process other nutrients. You only need 45mg of vitamin C per day.

 

4. Vitamin E will stave off heart disease.

As vitamin E is widely recognised as a beneficial antioxidant, may people believe that it can help to prevent heart disease. Not only is there no evidence to support this theory, but studies have categorically proven that vitamin E doesn’t protect your heart. Moreover, taking supplements of the vitamin may even increase your risk of death from all causes!

 

5. Supplements can protect you against cancer.

It would be nice if a few pills could prevent cancer, but unfortunately it’s not that easy. If you take large quantities of vitamin A, not only will it not cure cancer but it will also be toxic to your body. A small amount of evidence indicates that vitamin E can protect you against certain cancers, but there is an equal chance that this vitamin will cause other types of cancer – pick your poison!

Categories: colds, Deficiencies, heart disease, high doses, large amounts, large quantities, prevent, Supplements, vitamin, vitamin c, vitamins, water-soluble