One of the most common infections that affect the human body is the common cold. Despite the frequent re-occurrence of the condition as well as the fact that it is experienced in every part of the world, some scientists feel that there is no absolute cure for the occurrence. In medical terms, the cold is known as an upper respiratory virus and is a contagious and viral infectious disease.
The condition is characterized by the tendency of the affected individual to continuously sniffle and sneeze, while it is also sometimes accompanied by a sore throat and an annoying cough. The common cold will normally affect a person for anywhere between 3 to 10 days and will mostly affect the nose. However, some people may also experience a blockage of the ears. About 50% of all common colds are known to have been triggered by any one of 99 known serotypes of rhinovirus while about 10% to 15% of them are a direct result of the coronavirus. Overall, there are about 200 serologically different types of viruses that are known to cause colds, making it impossible to immunize an individual against the entire condition. Studies have shown that a lack of sleep (anything less than about 7 hours every night) can weaken the immune system, making the body more susceptible to colds. Low levels of vitamin D have also been known to play a prominent role in the onset of the condition.
While there is no absolute cure for the condition, there are a few home remedies that will significantly help an affected individual cope with it. Nasal drops are one of the most commonly used medicinal treatments when dealing with a blocked, stuffy nose that is the result of a common cold. You could prepare one yourself by adding ¼ teaspoon of table salt to about 10 ml of lukewarm water and apply 2 drops of the solution to each nostril with the help of a dropper. Soaking your body in a tub of hot water that also contains a few drops of cinnamon will help significantly relieve congestion. If you feel some congestion in the throat, you should try gargling with some water that has 1 teaspoon of table salt mixed into it to relieve any soreness that you might experience. Boiling a few pieces of ginger in normal tea and drinking it is also known to have a soothing effect on the throat. You should also increase your intake of fruits and vegetables that are known to have a high vitamin C content.
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There is no real cure for the common cold - the cold is a viral infection, and it is impossible to simply "get rid" of it. Antibiotics do not work against viruses and in general should anyway not be taken unless absolutely necessary; and there are no antiviral drugs that are known to work against the type of virus that causes colds. A cold will just take its natural course, and the body will fight off the infection within five to eight days, depending on the severity of the infection. There are however remedies that you can use during this period to make the cold less troublesome and uncomfortable.
Steam inhalation is one of the most effective cold remedies, as it helps clear up the nasal passages, thus relieving the frustrating congestion that tends to accompany a cold. Simply heat around a liter of water and pour it in a basin. Place a towel over your head, lean over the basin and breathe in and out for a few minutes. Always be careful when doing this - first check that the water and the steam rising out of it are not too hot, or you will scald yourself. It is also advisable to avoid using a metal container, as it will get hot and you will invariably touch it.
Gargling with warm salt water also helps - the nasal secretions during a cold usually end up irritating your throat, and gargling provides some relief. Ginger is also very useful, and can be added to tea or taken with honey, which is also an excellent treatment for the cold. If you prefer to take the ginger with honey, you should crush it to extract the juice, and then add this juice to around a teaspoon of honey. You can also use both ginger and honey in plain black tea - brew the ginger with the tea, and add the honey at the end.
One remedy that is not yet conclusively proven but can be tried is zinc. Zinc lozenges are easily available at any drug store, and are thought to help relieve the symptoms of a cold. Right now, evidence as to the effectiveness of this treatment is conflicting, but there is no harm in taking zinc lozenges, as long as you do not do so indefinitely. In any case, if your cold lasts for longer than ten days, you should visit a doctor for treatment.
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