Are you making your cold worse? Here’s how to get rid of the disease

At the first sign of cold symptoms, you may want to stock up on any remedies recommended by those around you. But do they really work? Although there are many popular suggestions such as using elderberry supplements, probing your nose with a garlic pod, and taking lots of vitamin C to ease cold symptoms, none of these will actually work. Here’s a guide to what you can avoid.

What most people believe about the common cold is a myth

You may feel unwell due to cold and cough. Sneezing, cough, fever and body ache are the miseries that increase with every passing minute. Most of what people believe about the common cold is a myth. According to experts, you will not catch a cold because you went out with a wet head or slept in a dry room.

But here’s what’s true. When you’re sick, some common mistakes can make your cold symptoms worse — or keep you from getting better.

Here are some things you may be doing that could be making your condition worse:

Using Elderberry Supplements

Contrary to popular belief, elderberry – the fruit of a tree variety called Sambucus, which is mostly found in Europe – can cure a cold in no time. Rich in protein, fat, carbohydrates, and fiber, studies show that elderberry is not as effective in reducing the severity or duration of flu symptoms.

not getting enough rest

Getting enough uninterrupted sleep is key to a healthy immune system. According to studies, sleeping less than 7 hours a night almost triples your risk of getting a cold.

So, if cold symptoms are keeping you up at night, try going to bed earlier or taking a nap during the day. You need extra rest, however, and you will get rest.

drink alcohol and smoking

Drinking too much alcohol is not only bad for your overall health, but it also dehydrates you and worsens cold symptoms like congestion. It also suppresses your immune system and potentially interacts with cold medications you may be taking.

Doctors also say that smokers get more colds than non-smokers and their symptoms are also worse. Smoking damages lung cells, making it harder for you to fight off colds.

don’t put garlic in your nose

Many people believe that putting garlic in the nose can provide rapid relief from nasal congestion symptoms. However, the Cleveland Clinic says this is a myth.

Stuffing garlic into your nose can only cause mucus to accumulate and irritate your mucous membranes, causing increased mucus production.

Take high doses of vitamin C

Vitamin C is believed to cure the common cold. However, the research on this claim is extremely contradictory. Although not fully proven, large doses of vitamin C may help shorten the duration of a cold but may not completely cure it.

However, studies suggest that vitamin C may have a stronger effect in people who are under intense physical stress.

overusing decongestant sprays

Doctors recommend being careful with nasal decongestant sprays because they may work well at first, but if you overuse them or use them for more than three days in a row, you may end up with a stuffy nose and It will get even worse.

How do you make sure you don’t get sick again and again?

According to experts, the flu has been linked to more than 35.5 million illnesses, more than 16.5 million medical visits, nearly 490,600 hospitalizations, and nearly 34,200 deaths during the 2018–2019 influenza season globally.

Although no medicine can completely cure the flu, doctors say the flu vaccine is the best defense against it. It is also important to prevent the disease from spreading throughout communities.

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