When it feels like a cold is out of your control, just remember that they’re only symptoms. Colds won’t do any long-lasting harm, so there’s no need to panic! Common colds typically last for a few days and eventually go away. Many viruses are the cause of them, but the rhinovirus is by far the most common.
When you’re feeling fatigued even before your symptoms start to clear up, a lot of the time, it’s because of a sinus infection. A runny nose and cough accompany a soreness, sneezing, and fever. Your fever might below-grade–in any case, it should go away on its own in about two or three days. Doing all this without talking to or touching other people is a massive part of the appeal.
A good start is to prevent a cold in the first place. A few helpful (and surprisingly easy) tips include- not to crowd and cover your mouth during sneezing or coughing, stay hydrated at all times, eat healthily as well as get enough sleep. Do these, and you can help ward off the winter sniffles and shorten their duration. Here is how you can fight off a cold throughout the whole season and save those sick days for something more fun.
Load up on vitamin D.
Studies show that people who don’t get conditions are much more likely to suffer from one. It’s thought this is because people need to be top up with vitamin D, a sunshine vitamin. This is because it makes your immune system strong and better able to fight off infections. Studies showing 400 international units of vitamin D per day can be effective in preventing respiratory infections.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommend that most adults take at least 600 IU each day, but other organizations say that is not enough and would like to see people take more. Low levels of vitamin D are linked to chronic illnesses, including cancers, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes.
It’s easy to forget where you’ve left your phone, which can be a problem because every location it’s in is more susceptible to germs. A bathroom stall, your kitchen counter, or at a restaurant table carry tons of germs just by having the phone there.
In fact, in 2012, a University of Arizona study found that cell phones can even carry ten times more bacteria than most toilet seats.
The best way to disinfect your phone is by wiping it with a Lysol or Clorox disinfecting wipe. Be sure to shut the phone down beforehand and be careful not to get any liquid on it. Once done, dry it off with a soft lint-free cloth. It is good to know that while bleach is excellent for deleting viruses, it can deteriorate your phone. If you are having trouble finding disinfecting wipes in an immediate area, this guide could come in handy: clean your phone with rubbing alcohol.
Reach for zinc.
Dr. Clements thinks that zinc might decrease the growth of viruses, and there are also reductions in the duration and severity of symptoms when taking zinc.
The NIH believes that most people need much less than that to meet their daily needs, so go for foods rich in zinc. Meat, tofu, oysters, and lentils are all great sources of zinc.
Power up with probiotics.
Studies have shown that not all bacteria are harmful; probiotic foods, like yogurt, kombucha, and sauerkraut, might help support your immune system!
One 2014 study in the Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport found that rugby players who took a probiotic supplement experienced far fewer colds and GI infections than those who popped a placebo.