Symptoms & Causes of Common Cold

Colds are a viral infection of the upper respiratory tract that spreads to the nose, throat and sinuses. The virus is transmitted from person to person quite easily. There are two types of colds- a viral infection and a bacterial infection. Viral infections are more common causing a milder form of cold, while bacterial infections cause a severe form of cold. It is important to know the common causes of a cold that help in treating it at the earliest.

The body is very complex and there are many parts that a person has to take care of in order to keep it healthy and ward off infections, so here is a look at the causes of common colds and why you should pay more attention to your health if you are experiencing these symptoms.

1. A runny nose and sneezing
2. Watery eyes
3. Fever, body aches
4. Cough, sore throat
5. Chest congestion, asthma
6. Stomach pain
7. Fatigue, lack of energy

While respiratory viruses and environmental factors can often lead to colds, there are other reasons why someone could be experiencing the aforementioned symptoms and they are not experiencing just one common cold. 

The common cold is highly contagious and spreads easily through droplets of nasal secretions when an infected person sneezes, talks or coughs. The virus can also be passed to others when they touch contaminated surfaces and then touch their eyes, nose or mouth.

Winter is the Season of Common Cold & Flu

The cold and flu are some of the most common illnesses that affect us during the winter season. Every day, many people suffer from flu, colds, sinusitis, and other respiratory problems. The intensity of these infections is especially increased due to higher exposure to cold viruses and bacteria in the winter months.

Bad air quality and crowded spaces contribute to an increase in the spread of bacteria, viruses and germs. It doesn’t take much time for a cold or the flu to develop into a full-blown infection.

In terms of physical symptoms, it is essential to understand your body’s response to these infections. When you are suffering from a cold or flu, you can feel your entire body temperature increase. You may also feel weak and have muscle aches and pains. Extreme fatigue can also be very common while having a cold or the flu; this is typically a result of worsening symptoms caused by the reduced oxygen intake by your body due to inflammation in your upper respiratory tract.

As soon as you catch a cold, the symptoms worsen. Be mindful of how you deal with the unpleasant effects of a common cold. The body's immune system fights off any harmful pathogens. Yet if your immune system is continuously weakened, it will lead to catching colds every now and then. 

In order to prevent getting sick, we’re sharing with you some tips on how to strengthen your immune system:

1. Get enough sleep. Lack of sleep or sleeping too much can weaken your immune system.

2. To keep your immune system healthy, always be hygienic and clean. Wash your hands frequently and avoid touching your face when coughing.

3. By regularly using immunity enhancing supplements, you’ll be able to boost and strengthen your immune system from time to time.

Home Remedies for Common Cold

Cold season is here. The sniffles and sneezes spread like wildfire on public transit, at the office and in your neighbourhood. There’s no cure for the common cold but there are some home remedies you can use to make your cold less miserable.

The Lemon Juice for Coughs: Mix about 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice, 1 tablespoon of honey and one cup of water. Drink this mixture to get relief from coughs. 

Ginger for Chest Congestion: Mix about 2 teaspoons of fresh ginger juice and two tablespoons of lime juice in warm water and drink this mixture to get relief from chest congestion. 

Garlic is a Powerful Antibiotic: When there is a cough with flu-like symptoms, crush up 2 cloves of garlic and boil them in 2 cups of water for 15 minutes. You can use the solution as an inhalant to soothe the symptoms in the lungs.

Cold is a viral infection of the upper respiratory tract causing nasal congestion, sore throat and cough. Cold may be caused by a virus or a bacterium. Treatment for a cold depends on the underlying cause, the symptoms and your immune system.

A simple way to treat the common cold is to use a homemade remedy. For this, you will need to buy ingredients such as garlic, onion, apple cider vinegar and lemon juice. Aside from these things, you should also have some honey, ginger, rosemary and black pepper.

When you are making the home remedy for the common cold, you should mix all ingredients in a blender. Then, you can strain the mixture and store it in a jar. You can take this remedy after each meal or before going to bed.

Take Away

The common cold is a viral infection that can be spread through direct contact in public places, contact with contaminated objects and by droplets of nasal secretions. There are more than 200 types of viruses capable of causing a cold.