Jennifer Burns asked:


A nasty weather or some draft caught you accidentally? It happens to all of us dozens of times every year. So, we need to be especially careful during the season-changing, when it gets suddenly warm or cold.

However, usually colds go away in 3-7 days.

• Drink lots of liquid. Water will reduce the headaches, throat aches, etc.;

• Wash you hands after blowing the nose: think of the people surrounding you, don’t infect them;

• Eat if you are hungry. You need strength to cope with the illness. Even more than that, if you feel hunger – you are not totally infected, and you don’t have a fever;

• Take a medicine only if you urgently need to. Make your own immunity work for you;

• A stressful work or a stressful activity prolongs the illness;

• Take a hot bath or a shower (if you don’t have a heat) to clear nasal passages;

• Try not to smoke. It will just increase some of he symptoms and weaken the immunity system;

• It would be nice to stay at home and avoid human contact;

• Avoid blowing the nose too often. It can cause he middle ear infection;

• If you do not feel better in 7 days, contact your doctor, for you may some more serious disease;

• If your fever rates up to 100 degrees, contact your doctor. You may have influenza/flu – the more serious illness;

• Consult your doctor in case you are pregnant, under 12 yrs old, immunodeficient or elderly.

In general, be attentive to your health; do not let the illness grasp your immunity system. Remember, a negligent attitude towards your own health may cause unexpected consequences in future.