The researchers and scientists have continued to assess many different solutions for dealing with a cough. Generally, there are countless numbers of publicized research regarding alternative medication and treatment. One particular obstacle which scientists experience is actually the truth that several individuals might be infected with the cough virus, but they never get symptoms and recuperate speedily without medication and other people get symptoms for up to three weeks. Some of the cause or causes regarding these disparities between people cannot be completely described.
The ordinary man or woman has two or even three cold symptoms every year, while the children generally experience more. As a result, colds may be the leading cause for children being absent from school and multiple visits to the doctor. There are hardly any efficient prescription medicines for the treatment of the cough, plus the antibiotics will neither stop nor destroy the viral infections. Even though the cold is not necessarily a severe medical problem, this could cause missing days and nights from work or school and also may result in bacterial attacks of your throat, sinuses and respiratory system.
Therefore, numerous scientists believe that researching the actual effects of alternative medication, vitamins and home remedies for the cold symptoms will be worthwhile.
Caring for the cough using zinc nose sprays or even gels seems to have been the area for many studies and this is to some degree questionable. A few researchers and scientists think that using zinc directly in the nose membranes could result in long term loss of the ability to smell. Actually, one particular group of individuals sued a business, as a result of not able to smell after using the zinc nose spray. You can also find the zinc lozenges easily accessible, but these are not presumed to obtain the side effects connected with the sprays, but are merely efficient in lowering the period of cold problems for about 50% of the individuals who utilize them.
In addition, a number of studies were also carried out to look at the possibilities of Vitamin C as a substitute medication and remedy for the cough. A few of these scientific tests deduce that Vitamin C could lessen the period and severity of the symptoms, while others show that this is an efficient preventative. But, there are still some researchers who believe that vitamin C cannot effectively treat or even prevent the cold symptoms.
Acupuncture has also been analyzed as a renewable medication and remedy for cough. Several scientists think that acupuncture could become a dependable fever reducer. Then, there is also Echinacea which is frequently recommended by the herbalists as an alternative medication and treatment for cough. Nevertheless, some scientists think that Echinacea could be poisonous to the liver if utilized over an extended period and must not be utilized as a prevention measure.
Paying attention to preventing, instead of treating these symptoms generally boost the immune system. There is an herb called Andrographis paniculata which is utilized as a traditional medication throughout Asia and Europe, both as a treatment and preventative solution. The test has revealed that this features extremely lower poisoning component, actually in huge quantities and also will be a good alternative medication and remedy.
Usually caused by one of more than 200 viruses, the common cold is caused by these microorganisms infecting the upper respiratory tract, particularly the nose and throat. Symptoms vary from one individual to another, though it is considered harmless. It may be runny nose, sore throat, cough, watery eyes, sneezing and congestion. Most adults are afflicted from two to four times while children as many as six to ten times each year. Recovery from a common cold is done in a week or two but if symptoms continue, it’s imperative to see a doctor.
Common colds cannot be readily cured as there are really no effective cure for it but when someone has it, making him comfortable as much as possible is a common remedy but these tips can also help. Many people recommend drinking lots of water when or liquids. Fruit juices, tea and other healthy beverages are considered to be good choices because these replaces fluids lost during mucus production and expulsion, and also during fever. Soothing the throat by either gargling with warm salt water or saline water several times daily or drinking warm lemon water with honey may help soothe a sore throat and relieve cough.
The old remedy of spooning chicken soup to children for many generations now is still practiced by many. It has been found out that it helps to relieve cold and flu symptoms in two ways. First, the soup acts as an anti-inflammatory agent that inhibits the movement of the immune system cells called neutrophils that help in the body’s ability to respond to the inflammation. Second, it has been observed that the movement of mucus through the nose is increased; which helps relieve congestion and limits the time the viruses are in contact with the individual’s nasal lining.
Alcohol and caffeine should be avoided because it can lead one to urinate frequently and this may cause dehydration when water is not supplied or replaced immediately. Even smoking is not allowed since cigarette smoke can aggravate the symptoms.
Rest: The Best Remedy for the Common Colds
The common cold is an infection caused by one of the more than 200 virus infecting the upper portion of the respiratory tract. It is the most common infectious disease and the common reason for kids visiting their doctors and being absent from school. The common discomforts it affords the individual are frequent sneezes, sore throat, annoying cough, runny nose and oftentimes, fever. It has no sure cure but some things can be done to ease the discomfort and make the individual or patient as comfortable as possible.
When one has the common cold coupled with a fever and a bad cough, if possible, the individual must stay home and have a much-needed rest. Sometimes, taking medications will make one drowsy which makes it much better to just stay at home. Rest is important when one has the common cold and this will also lessen the chances of other people contacting the disease. When living or working with someone with a chronic disease or with immune system that’s compromised, an individual with the common colds must wear a mask. When staying at home, the room’s temperature should be adjusted to warm but not too hot. If the air is dry, moisten the air with a humidifier or vaporizer to ease the feelings of congestion and coughing. The humidifier should be clean to prevent bacteria and molds from multiplying.
Sore throat usually accompanies the common colds and this can be lessened and soothe by gargling with warm water in which salt is added or saline water several times a day. Another home remedy for the sore throat and relieve the cough is to drink warm water with lemon and honey. When one has nasal congestion, adults and even children can try using the over-the-counter saline nasal drops since these are safe, effective and non-irritating. For babies, putting several drops in one nostril while closing the other one for suctioning and repeating the process with the opposite nostril before bedtime lessens the congestion and improves sleep. This practice when done before feeding the baby can improve his ability to feed or nurse with the use of the bottle.
The Use of Alternative Medicine for the Common Colds and Cough
Alternative medicine is often used as therapy for the common cold, since it has no sure cure anyway. Many persons still use it although it probably won’t cure the infection because it may help make the individual more comfortable by easing the symptoms. Many alternative medicines and treatments are used to treat common colds and cough and here are some of them.
There are no known studies yet that shows prevention of the disease by merely taking echinacea only that it can relieve the symptoms when one has a cold or shortens the duration of a common cold. This plant used as an alternative medicine is most effective when taken as soon as the first symptoms of the infection are experienced. Vitamin C is another common alternative medicine used for the treatment of the infection. There’s no clinical evidence yet that consuming plenty of doses of vitamin C reduces the risk you have of catching the disease, but it has been a known nutrient taken from foods like citrus fruits, oranges, berries and guavas; that are used to fight against infection.
However, the taking of Vitamin C supplements in high doses of up to 6 grams a day will result in the reduction of the duration and severity of the symptoms in majority of the population. For people exposed to physical and environmental stresses, the intake of Vitamin C reduced incidence of the illness. Some people resort to the use of zinc as it had been known to reduce its duration and severity when administered within 24 hours upon its onset. Many people also use zinc gel nasal sprays or lozenges at the beginning of the illness and this may help reduce the signs. But since many users also experience long-term or permanent loss of smell, therefore the use of these sprays is highly discouraged.
Honey is often used as an alternative medicine for cough treatment. Buckwheat honey which was given to children before their bedtime provided better cough relief at night and improved their sleeping difficulty. There are a number of Chinese herbs and other plants that have been reported to ease common cold symptoms, such as garlic, ginger, hyssop and mullein but all of the studies done on it are not yet conclusive and these are still ongoing as of this time.
Common Colds: Prevention is Always Better than Cure
There’s no known vaccine yet that has ever been developed for the treatment and cure of the common cold, but precautions can be practiced to slow down the spread of these cold viruses. Because there is no specific treatment in the cure of the disease, then we should exert extra effort and find ways in its prevention. As always, prevention is better than cure.
Contamination is a risk factor that is often attributed to the onset of the common cold and the best precaution against this is the frequent washing of hands. Aside from washing it often, hands should also be washed thoroughly. Children and even adults should be taught the importance of hand washing to prevent easy spread of the disease. They should be asked to carry a small bottle of alcohol-based hand rub or solution containing at least 60 – 70 percent alcohol wherever they go and especially when soap and water are not readily available. These gels are very useful in killing most harmful microorganisms and are safe for older children to use themselves.
When somebody at home has the common cold, keep all areas clean by wiping the surfaces of common places frequented and used by everybody in the house such as the kitchen, dining and living area and also the bathroom. Sharing of dining and drinking utensils should be avoided, if possible, label these utensils to prevent other members of the family, especially the children from using the same utensils used by the person who is ill. Wash all children’s toys after playing. Sneeze and cough with the use of tissues and discard this right away. After doing this, wash hands carefully. Avoid staying close and have prolonged contact with anyone who has a cold.
In placing your child to a child care center, choose wisely by looking for a place that practices good hygiene and with clear policies on keeping and taking care of sick children. The more children who are sick in the center means the more your child is at risk to the common cold therefore take extra precautions not to expose your child to illness and infection.
Common Colds in Babies: Home Remedies to Ease the Symptoms
Adults are not exempt from the common symptoms of the common colds, and when babies are around, they are exposing themselves to the babies who are more susceptible to it. This happens when adults do not practice the proper hygiene practices and hand washing techniques especially when they are handling babies. Common cold is a viral infection and the virus causing it is easily spread and cause contamination that targets the baby’s upper respiratory tract so when they catch the infection, the most affected is their nose and throat.
When babies have contacted the common colds, they will suffer from nasal congestion and runny nose which are the two most common signs of the cold. The nasal discharge is clear at first then it progresses to becoming thicker and turn into shades of yellow or green. Other common signs are fever, sneezing, coughing, decreased appetite, irritability and difficulty in sleeping.
The treatment for this is to take steps to ease the symptoms such as letting the baby drink more fluids than usual and by keeping the air moist. Mothers should take their infants and visit their physicians as soon as the first symptoms of the cold are observed because they are more at risk to complications leading to more serious diseases like croup and pneumonia. If the baby has already a developed immune system, colds will be conquered within seven to ten days. But if the infant has complications, it is best to see the doctor immediately. When the infant has no complications, congestion in the nose makes it hard for feeding, and this can lead to dehydration. Parents should take note that babies should take enough water especially when they have fever because of the danger of dehydration.
Babies with the common colds should be taken to the doctor immediately if they refuse to feed or accept liquids in the bottle, has a heavy cough which already leads to vomiting and sometimes to blood-tinged sputum, has a difficulty in breathing and when they already turn bluish especially around the lips and mouth.
Why Babies are Susceptible to the Common Colds
There are so many viruses causing the common colds and these affects babies several times during the year and throughout their lifetime. The virus causing the infection enters their body through their nose and mouth when they come in direct contact with it. Coughing, sneezing and talking in front of babies are practices that must be prohibited and should be avoided because the virus are easily spread and they are most susceptible to the infection. Contamination happens when they are touched or are given toys or feeding bottles which may be infected with the virus. Because viruses can live on surfaces in two hours or longer, they will catch the virus when they touch these surfaces that are dirty or contaminated.
Babies, three months or older are in danger of the complications of the common cold and should be taken to the doctor as soon as they are observed to be wetting their diapers more than the usual, has a higher body temperature of more than 102° F observed for only one day, has a higher temperature which is more than 101° F occurring for more than three days, have ear pain and red eyes developing into a yellow discharge, have more than a week cough, and has more than two weeks thick and green nasal discharges.
Home remedies for babies can be done when there are no complications seen with their common cold. Offer plenty of fluids and encourage them to drink more than the usual amount of liquids they drink each day to minimize the danger of dehydration. Breastfeeding should not be stopped because this offers extra protection from diseases caused by harmful microorganisms. Saline nose drops which can be bought over-the-counter may be used to soften and thin nasal mucus for ease in expelling it. Baby’s clogged nasal passages may be rendered clear by suctioning the mucus. Humidify the air inside the baby’s room to help improve nasal congestion and the prevention of runny nose. Holding the baby in a steamy bathroom before bedtime is also a great help.
Babies: At Risk to the Common Colds
Infants or babies are the population groups most susceptible to the common colds since they are the ones who are not exposed to these viruses and therefore have not developed the resistance to fight them. They are also at risk in catching the cold because they spend a lot of time with older children who are often unaware of the importance of washing their hands or covering their mouth and nose as they cough or sneeze which is often the avenue of spreading the viruses. Both children and adults are prone to the colds during the fall and winter which is the time when the air is dry. Children inside the school classrooms and adults in the workplace spend most of their time indoors which makes the spread of the virus easier.
There’s no cure for the common cold since treatment with the use of antibiotics don’t seem to work. Making them comfortable is the best thing to be done for the baby aside from suctioning mucus from their nose and keeping the air in the room moist. Again, call the doctor at the first sign of illness observed especially if the baby is still 3 months or younger in age.
If the infant has a fever of 100.4° F or higher, provide comfort by giving him acetaminophen in doses that are appropriate to the child’s age. This can provide comfort to the baby while Ibuprofen can be given if the child is 6 months or older. These medications should not be given if the baby is dehydrated and also if the baby is vomiting continuously. Aspirin should not be given also to someone younger than 18 years of age, because it may trigger a rare but potentially fatal condition called Reye’s syndrome.
Besides, these products are not capable of killing or eliminating a virus. Infants should not be given over-the-counter cough and cold medicines or preparations because these products are not beneficial to infants and may cause serious and potentially life-threatening side effects in them. Over-the-counter treatment products are constantly checked by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and they have strongly warned the public that these drugs shouldn’t be used in children younger than age 2. In October 2008, the Consumer Healthcare Products Association, with the support of the FDA, volunteered to re-label products to indicate they shouldn’t be used in children younger than age 4.
Good Hygienic Practices: Best Remedy for Colds and Cough in Babies
Common cold is a viral infection and the virus causing it is easily spread and can cause contamination that targets the baby’s upper respiratory tract so when they catch the infection, the most affected is their nose and throat. Contamination happens when adults do not practice the proper hygiene practices and hand washing techniques especially when they are handling babies, and they are exposing themselves to the babies who are more susceptible to the infection.
The common cold is typically spread by adults through infected respiratory droplets which is coughed and sneezed openly into the air. Because of this, proper hygienic practices are encouraged to minimize the multiplication of the virus on surfaces or areas already contaminated by it; therefore there is a need to continually wipe surfaces with soap and water especially when there are people in the house who are sick. Aside from this, the use of proper hand washing must be strictly imposed.
Touching people, surfaces and objects contaminates your hands by accumulating germs throughout the day. These can cause contamination and infection when you touch yourself. Maintaining germ-free hands is next to impossible but washing your hands frequently can help limit or eliminate the transfer of disease-producing microbes.
Frequent hand washing by following the proper technique is one of the best ways to avoid getting ill and being infected. It requires one to use only soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer to keep contamination and eventually infection away. Wash your hands properly before feeding, caring and merely touching your baby. Their toys and pacifiers should also be washed and cleaned properly. When soap and water is not available, use hand wipes and gels to remove germs from your hands before handling the baby. Teach everyone in the household to cough or sneeze into a tissue and then toss it away. If you can’t reach a tissue in time, cough or sneeze into the crook of your arm.
Keep babies away from those who are sick, especially during the first few days of illness. Babies should also be kept away from public gatherings and if possible, avoid the use of public transportation with your newborn. Simple preventive measures, proper hygiene practices and proper hand washing techniques can be the safest remedy in keeping the common cold away from them.