The worst cold ever – The common cold or something more sinister
How is your health?
It’s a known fact that as the seasons change, common colds start to occur. The problem is with covid 19 still lingering, how do we know if we have the virus or this new strain being labelled as the ‘worst cold ever’.
Symptoms like, shortness of breath, can be scary and anyone who is struggling should seek medical advice. The truth is the symptoms can be similar to covid 19 and are wiping people out for weeks.
This new cold strain has symptoms of “chesty cough, sandpaper throat and a runny nose”. Doctors are advising to take regular tests to eliminate possibilities of the virus. No one is exempt, children and adults alike are being diagnosed with this cold. Precautions should still be in place, washing hands regularly, keeping a safe distance away from anyone who has signs of a cold and wearing masks when appropriate.
Prevention is always better than cure. Keeping your immune system high and stress levels low is a great start. Exercise is the best stress relief medicine and has been proven to have a profound impact on improving the immune system. Eating foods that are high in antioxidant content, can help boost the immune system. However, even with the best intentions, you can still fall ill.
How can you combat this cold?
I love the idea of a care package. However, as you don’t have a friend who can drop one off at your doorstep, then here’s my top 10 tips;
- Drink plenty of fluids. Keeping hydrated with help reduce headaches and flush out those toxins, try adding a slice of lemon.
- Vitamin C. These can be ordered online as a supplement or can be collected from any health food store. Other options include carrots, oranges, broccoli, spinach, mangos, lemons.
- Rest. We live in a busy world but when you are ill, it’s your body telling you to slow down and take some time to heal.
- Eat your greens. Again, this can be in the form of a supplement or your ,veggies,. High antioxidants create a chemical reaction in your body that neutralize free radicals and start to heal it from the inside out.
- Steam. Taking a steam bath or holding your head over a hot bowl of water, can ease symptoms of a runny, blocked nose. Add a little Eucalyptus oil and you will soon start to feel the benefits. (This last one is not recommended for children).
- Hot Drinks. Honey, lemon, ginger and hot water or fruit teas with added ginseng or Elderberry can help lift a cold.
- Echinacea supplements. These have been proven to prevent or shorten colds.
- Meditation. This one might sound strange to some, however, if your immune system is low due to high stress levels, then time should be taken now to cultivate new habits to reduce stress.
- Gentle exercise. This might be the last thing on your mind, but walking can improve your psychical and mental health also keeping your metabolism high to fight the lurgy.
- Vitamin D. Get to a window or sit in your garden. Vital for the absorption of calcium and phosphorus and facilitating normal immune system function.
Do not panic!
It is true that in the pandemic we have not built a strong immunity and the fact is we are all out and about socialising now. Nevertheless, our immune system has served us well this far and your body is the most intelligent thing you will ever possess. So, I urge you to take care of this shell you live in. You only get one body and one life. Treat it well, give yourself the best chance at fighting off any infection and know that if you do fall ill, your body will be stronger once it has healed. Being ill has taught me to never take my health for granted and live every day to its fullest.
-Jemma
