A Detailed Guide on Cold Treatment at Home, Causes, and Complications 

The first sign you get is an uncomfortable throat and a sudden sneeze that comes out of your nose, telling you that a cold is about to happen. And when these unexpected guests come, they truly ruin your happy day. But the amazing thing is that you can really go against them. You just need to keep your body ready to fight against the virus, due to which you are suffering from a cold. It is very simple to get out of this problem just by adopting cold treatment at home. In this blog, you will know more about the home remedies to treat a cold, what causes a cold, how you feel when you suffer from a cold, and what the complications of a cold are. 

What is Cold?

You constantly sneeze when you suffer from a cold. But do you know what is cold? It is a common infection that is caused when a virus comes into your body and settles in your nose and throat. While you suffer from a cold, your immune system faces problems in fighting off the viruses. It rarely is serious, however, and although it might make you feel lousy for a couple of days, your body is programmed to fight it off without any heavy-duty medication.  

Causes of Cold

So how do you get cold to find you? It is simple to get in contact with the cold because it gets transmitted from person to person when you come in contact. They may come from a person if someone is sneezing or coughing in front of you. There tiny droplet is full of viruses that cause a cold. Not only through the air, you may get infected when you touch a contaminated thing, such as a doorknob or even someone’s mobile phone. It may come into your body through the nose, eyes, or mouth. 

Symptoms of a Cold 

The common cold is not known to come screaming by, as it creeps up on you. You may have only one sign initially, and after a while, a few more get into the act. Some of the common suspects can be found below:

• The drippy nose: The runny nose may start as your body is attempting to clear the virus out, and then usually becomes stuffy.
• The Sneezing Fit: It is your body’s natural defence mechanism to get rid of those nasty things in your nose by force.
• The Scratchy Throat: Often, the very first clue that a cold is on its way is a familiar, raw feeling.
• The Persistent Cough: Either a dry hack or a mucus-cough may develop to clear your airways.
• The Overall achiness: You may feel somewhat achy all over as if you have overworked at the gym.
• The Dull Headache: This can be associated with a dull yet constant headache that is irritating.
• The Draining Fatigue: This is perfectly normal. Your body is tired as well, as it needs all the energy to fight the bug.

Even though this list may be lengthy, these symptoms are only your body’s way of letting you know that it is working hard. In general, they are in your face the day or so after you are exposed, and mercifully, they are usually out of there within a week or so. 

Read More – Unwanted Kit Uses in Hindi | अनवांटेड किट के फायदे और सावधानियां

Cold Treatment at Home 

Always remember that antibiotics are not the only solution to get rid of a cold when you suffer from it. They destroy bacteria and not the viruses that produce the cold. Beyond medicines, you can adopt some natural remedies present in your kitchen so that you can get instant relief and fight against the viruses. The following are some methods to get help from quick relief from a cold: 

1. Get Rest: The number one thing your body needs is rest and energy to heal itself, so make your plans and listen. You can also improve your immune system just by getting proper sleep at night. 
2. Keep the Fluids Flowing: Your two good friends are water and warm herbal teas. They help to thin down the mucus and help keep the throat moist whilst preventing you from getting dehydrated.
3. Soothe the scratchy throat: A salt water gargle: half a teaspoon of salt dissolved in a warm glass of water is an effective remedy that soothes the scratchy throat. You can also get it cured with a small piece of lozenge and a little honey. Always remember not to give honey to children under 1 year of age. 
4. Dealing with a Stuffy Nose: To deal with a stuffy nose, The best cold treatment at home is that you can use a saline nasal spray or inhale steam from a hot shower or pot. You can also use a humidifier in the room to make the air moist, which helps to open up congestion. 
5. Hibernate with Comfort: Comforting foods such as chicken soup are more than an old wives’ tale. Light food like soups is easy to digest, which keeps you hydrated and calms down the inflammation. 
6. For Aches and Fever: Sometimes, you experience severe pain and just need a pill to calm down. At that time, your doctor may prescribe you over-the-counter medicines such as Paracetamol, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen. These medicines help you reduce body pain and fever. But you should always talk you your doctor first. 

Complications of Cold 

Well, some colds pass without any harm, but it is important to be aware of that extra care. A virus may look normal, but sometimes it opens the door for other problems. Mostly, it happens in young children, the elderly, or people who have chronic health problems. Remember these points: 

• Sinus Infection: It is difficult and painful for sinus pressure to come out of the area around your eyes and nose due to prolonged congestion in your sinuses. 
• An ear infection may occur: You may suffer from an ear infection if fluid builds up behind the eardrum. It can create an area of infection where bacteria can easily grow.
• Bronchitis: You may suffer from a deep cough if you get an infection in your airways. This will bring mucus to your throat.  
• Asthma getting worse: A common cold can cause more asthma attacks or worsen the symptoms of those suffering from asthma. 

When to see a doctor:

It’s always better to be safe. If you are experiencing severe symptoms, if you notice that your symptoms are not getting better within approximately 10 days, or if you have a sudden high fever, contact your doctor. Trust your instincts. If something seems really wrong, it is best to have it checked out.  

Conclusion 

A cold is a little inconvenience, but it makes you slow down and pay attention to your body. By giving yourself the gift of rest, drinking plenty of fluid. And using the cold treatment at home, you may give yourself just the perfect support. The support your body needs to do what it does best, which is, of course, to heal itself. The next time the sniffles come on, remember that often all one needs to feel better is a cuddly blanket, a hot drink, and a dose of patience. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)