Colds, Flu and Immunity

Description

The Cold Virus: A cold can occur at any time of year, although most common in the winter months and rainy seasons. It is highly infectious and is one of the most common contractible viruses in the human race.

Colds are characterised by inflamed mucous membranes of the respiratory system. You may experience sneezing, coughing, a runny nose, headaches and runny eyes.

Statistics

• An average adult gets 2 or 3 colds per year (quite avoidable).
• Children average 3 to 8 colds per year (a strain on their maturing immune system).
• 84% of colds in the US occur in the under 17s and appear to be related to their inadequate immune systems. (NCHS)

Causes

A cold is caught by inhaling the virus from someone sneezing close by, or by touching your nose, eyes or mouth after you have touched something contaminated with the virus.

The flu is caught when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or speaks and sends minute flu viruses into the air for other people to breathe in.

Diagnosis

Most people recognise the signs of a cold or flu themselves and only feel the need to visit a healthcare practitioner if they become concerned about any complications developing from this common infection.

However, it is possible for your healthcare practitioner to diagnose the virus from a simple physical examination, chest x-ray (for complications of bronchitis or pneumonia), blood count or culture and from swabs taken from the nose and/or throat.

Signs & Symptoms

Symptoms of a cold or of flu can be extremely similar. However, flu does produce more serious and debilitating effects.

Often you can continue your usual daily routines even with a cold, whereas with the flu your body requires more rest and may have difficulty performing usual tasks.

Symptoms include any/all of the following:

Treatments

Exercise, rest, a balanced diet and building your body’s resistance back up are the only ways to really help replenish your immune system and enable it to eliminate the virus in its own way. 

Conventional Treatments

In the UK & US more money is spent on over-the-counter medications for coughs and colds than any other ailment. While some of these treatments may relieve symptoms associated with colds and coughs, none will effect a cure or shorten its duration and all interfere with your body’s own efforts to cure. Many medications are also associated with dangerous side effects...

Natural Treatments

If you tend to get colds and/or flu often it may be a sign that your immune system is not working properly. Maintaining your immune system is your best protection and solution against viruses, especially if you come into contact with such infections often, or feel you may at any given time. For More Information Click Here