With winter slowly but surely creeping closer, many South Africans are battling with colds, flu and other infections. The terms “cold” and “flu” and “viral infections” are often used, without the affected person really knowing if they’re battling a common cold or something more severe.
In this post, we will be specifically looking at the common cold, and hopefully put a myth or two at rest in the process.
The common cold is known by many different names, ranging from nasopharyngitis to rhinopharyngitis to an acute coryza or a head cold. No matter what you choose to call your cold, it is important to understand that it is caused by a virus which attacks your upper respiratory tract. What that basically means, is that the primary body part that will be affected… is your nose! You may also suffer from mild to severe symptoms such as a sore throat and coughing, all of which should resolve in around a week or a week and a half, given the correct attention and treatment.
Depending on which areas are affected by the virus, you can typically suffer from pharyngitis (if your throat is affected), sinusitis (if your nose is affected) and even conjunctivitis if the infection goes to your eyes.
It’s fascinating that the symptoms are actually the way that the body’s immune system reacts to the infection, rather than a direct effect of the viruses on the affected areas. How will you know that you are developing a cold? Early symptoms will include a bit of fatigue, perhaps a feeling of being chilled, partnered by anything from sneezing to a cough and runny nose.
Make sure that you boost your immune system in time for the chilly season and don’t forget to wash your hands often. A small measure such as regular hand washing can be very effective in http://www.medicineid.com/ reducing the spread of viruses.
Silverlab assists those with self-diagnosed health conditions to achieve swift and lasting relief, unleashing you into a life of health with renewed vigor!
