How Does the Common Cold Affect Your Body?

One popular myth about the common cold is that when you catch it, it is as if you have been infected with an illness. This is not true. A common cold is actually the body’s way of detoxifying itself to recover from an illness. Scientific research reveals several types of viruses which can bring about the infection.

A common cold or a fever is the body’s way of increasing its circulation and metabolism speed in order to encourage the body to perspire as a means to ridding itself of bacteria and other harmful toxins... this helps to explain how does the common cold affect your body.

Symptoms of the Common Cold

We are all familiar with the symptoms of a cold. You know it has hit you when you start experiencing body chills. Other common symptoms include: nasal discharge, nasal congestion, sneezing, coughing and a sore throat.

For the more intense types of cold such as the rhinovirus, you can even experience weakness, headache, muscular pain, shivering, exhaustion, and loss of appetite.

What Happens to Your Immune System?

Another fact you may not know about the cold, is that once you have been infected, your weakened immune system is further debilitated.

This means if the illness you are infected with continues to develop, your body becomes weaker. In other words, if the rhinovirus stays with you, it might let its other virus friends join the party.

Therefore, you are more vulnerable to other more complex and dangerous diseases such as influenza and pneumonia as a result of getting a cold, which in some cases can be fatal. A cold can also bring about bronchitis, strep throat, sinusitis, otitis media, and hypothermia.

Those already suffering from chronic lung diseases such as asthma will have the increased risk of having a more aggravated illness.

Cure for the Cold

There is no actual cure for the common cold, although some cold medicines may stop the symptoms. Some just rely on old practices such as simply waiting for it to subside -it takes seven days on the average- or eating chicken soup, or taking over the counter medications.

Home Remedies

There are many home remedies that can be tried in order to relieve fever and cold symptoms without hindering the body’s natural way of healing. The most recommended treatment for common cold involves drinking lots of fluids and getting plenty of sleep. Taking vitamins, particularly Vitamin C and zinc will help strengthen the immune system.

Herbs such as boneset can be used as well in order to treat pain related to a cold. Cinnamon, ginger, and peppermint will increase perspiration. Garlic helps fight the infection. Licorice is a natural expectorant while horehound loosens up the mucus. Echinacea and its anti-inflammatory properties can also be used since it boosts the immune system in fighting off the infection. It also treats sore throats, bacterial fungal and viral infections.

Steam

To help treat nasal congestion, you can try using steam. To do this, simply place a vaporizer beside your bed or lean over a bowl of boiling water and place a towel over your head to trap the steam. Inhaling the steam will help clear up runny and clogged noses.

To make steaming more effective, add a few drops of white vinegar, eucalyptus oil, or tea tree oil to the steaming water or vaporizer. These oils and substances will boost the effects of the steam in clearing up your nasal passages. Steam coming from a warm bath or shower will work also.

Nasal Sprays

Another homeopathic method to treat runny nose involves the use of a saline nasal spray. Simply boil a liter of water and then add a teaspoon of salt to it. Once the solution has been cooled, store it in a sterile bottle or container.

Use a nasal syringe or dropper to administer a few drops of the solution in each nostril. Allow the solution to drip down your nasal passages for instant relief.

Prevention

The best thing to do for the common cold is to prevent it. This includes getting lots of rest, eating a nutritious and well balanced diet, and doing regular exercise.