An Easy Way to Battle the Common Cold
By: Jen Mueller,
SparkPeople Blogger
10/15/2010 10:28 AM
: 68 comments
: 17,661 Views
I don’t need to look at a calendar to know that cold season has arrived in my house. Runny noses, sneezing and coughing are the norm since my daughter recently started preschool again. I love this time of year for the cooler weather and changing leaves. But in some ways I dread it because at least one person in my family always seems to be sick from October through January.
We practice good habits like regular hand washing to ward off some of the germs. But no matter how hard I try, it’s inevitable that my kids will get sick at least some time in the next few months. Once they do, it’s anyone’s guess how long the symptoms will last. Sometimes it’s just a day or two, but other times, the stubborn germs seem to hang on for weeks. I’m always looking for easy ways to speed up the healing process that don’t involve medication (when that’s possible.) Recently I read about one simple technique that could prevent us from experiencing some of those common cold symptoms. I think it’s worth a try.
A 2005 study, published in The American Journal of Preventive Medicine, followed 400 people for 60 days during cold and flu season. One group was told to gargle with salt water three times a day. "At the end of the study period, the group that regularly gargled had a nearly 40 percent decrease in upper respiratory tract infections compared with the control group, and when they did get sick, "gargling tended to attenuate bronchial symptoms," the researchers wrote."
Medical experts say a saline solution can loosen thick mucus and draw excess fluid from inflamed tissue in the throat, easing cough and cold symptoms. The technique sounds simple, according to the Mayo Clinic: dissolve half a teaspoon of salt in a full glass of warm water and gargle the solution for a few seconds before spitting it out. Even if it doesn’t help, it’s a simple, inexpensive, and worth a try.
Check out Self-Care Tips for Sick Days for other ways to fight off germs this season. And if you are one of the unlucky ones who end up getting it, Beat the Flu! Here’s How.
What simple things do you do to prevent sickness during the winter months? If you do get sick, do you have any tricks for a speedy recovery?
We practice good habits like regular hand washing to ward off some of the germs. But no matter how hard I try, it’s inevitable that my kids will get sick at least some time in the next few months. Once they do, it’s anyone’s guess how long the symptoms will last. Sometimes it’s just a day or two, but other times, the stubborn germs seem to hang on for weeks. I’m always looking for easy ways to speed up the healing process that don’t involve medication (when that’s possible.) Recently I read about one simple technique that could prevent us from experiencing some of those common cold symptoms. I think it’s worth a try.
A 2005 study, published in The American Journal of Preventive Medicine, followed 400 people for 60 days during cold and flu season. One group was told to gargle with salt water three times a day. "At the end of the study period, the group that regularly gargled had a nearly 40 percent decrease in upper respiratory tract infections compared with the control group, and when they did get sick, "gargling tended to attenuate bronchial symptoms," the researchers wrote."
Medical experts say a saline solution can loosen thick mucus and draw excess fluid from inflamed tissue in the throat, easing cough and cold symptoms. The technique sounds simple, according to the Mayo Clinic: dissolve half a teaspoon of salt in a full glass of warm water and gargle the solution for a few seconds before spitting it out. Even if it doesn’t help, it’s a simple, inexpensive, and worth a try.
Check out Self-Care Tips for Sick Days for other ways to fight off germs this season. And if you are one of the unlucky ones who end up getting it, Beat the Flu! Here’s How.
What simple things do you do to prevent sickness during the winter months? If you do get sick, do you have any tricks for a speedy recovery?
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Comments
My Dr and other experts claim there is nothing to the myth that vitamin C helps prevent colds but I have been taking supplements from mid Oct to Feb for the past 5 years and know it has made a difference. Up until then I would always end up with chronic bronchitis every year for the preceding 15. Since starting with the vitamin C, I have had colds but have escaped the bronchitis so I swear by vitamin C. - 10/17/2010 5:11:06 PM
I am constantly visited by the flu virus everytime one is around so I know the signs. At the slightest onset of a scratchy throat, etc. I immediately do extra topping up of my Vitamin C and take Panadol Multi-symptom. If I do come down with it, at least the recovery period is much shorter. - 10/17/2010 8:52:02 AM
The health food store has other nasal sprays that might be helpful; two I like are collodial silver and xylitol.
Vit D and Vit C. I use airborne and really like the nighttime solution; hot apple cider flavor.
Funny, my voice teacher and I had a huge conversation about this yesterday; clogged vocal cords are no joke to a singer!
Dianne - 10/16/2010 12:59:12 PM
I also don't over-do with the sanitizing of counter tops, over-sterilizing, etc.
I have been very healthy all my life, and this is the way I have always lived. And recently I am reading that the killing of germs also kills the ability of one's own body to FIGHT germs, since the body can not build up immunities.
Just some food for thought........... - 10/16/2010 12:31:51 PM
So, what do I do to fend off a cold ? I stay away from sick people's germs and I eat right.
- 10/16/2010 12:22:44 PM
It's funny how we think things are old wife's tales but they turn out to benefit us. - 10/16/2010 9:44:47 AM
I used to take OTC cold remedies that really dry you out, but stopped because I was diagnosed with Sjogrens. To my surprise, I found out I do much, much better without them. The saline spray helps (haven't tried the neti pot), but my big problem is coughing. I've determined that I have a sensitive cough reflex - the slightest irritation in my throat gets me started, and the more I cough the more irritated it gets until I end up with bronchitis. So, the one medicine I use is prescription cough remedies that do not contain an antihistamine to dry me out.
- 10/16/2010 9:13:09 AM
ot ). I have the Sinus Rinse ( http://www.neilmed.com/usa/products
.php ) that you squeeze to squirt the solution into your nose, but have also used the neti pot. Both are great for opening your sinuses and flushing out allergens. Highly recommended by my allergist. BTW, he gave me this simple recipe to make your own sodium chloride & sodium bicarbonate mixture for use in the neti pot/sinus rinse:
- Mix 2 parts pickling/canning salt to 1 part baking soda
- Use up to 1/4 teaspoon with 8 oz. warm tap water
I remember using saltwater gargles in the past to soothe a sore throat. I'll have to try it next time I have a cold. - 10/16/2010 9:06:17 AM
It's only taken the medical fraternity a couple of centuries to confirm an age old *home remedy*... - 10/16/2010 5:11:11 AM
I think that alot of people dont clean common things as much as we should (ie door knobs etc) also I wonder if people dont air out their houses as much in the winter as in days gone by, I also remeber being a young lad of 13 taking karate for the first time (I NEVER got a cold I think I sweated them out -it was great) - 10/15/2010 8:55:57 PM
I use echinacea and goldenseal capsules to support immune funtion if I feel a cold coming on. - 10/15/2010 7:07:22 PM
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