THOSE NASTY COLDS ARE ON THEIR WAY TO VISIT YOU

To everything, 

Turn – Turn – Turn 

There is a season

Turn – Turn – Turn

And a time to every purpose . . .

Wait a minute!

What’s the purpose of the cold and flu season which is marshalling up its forces to attack us?

And what can we do about it?

Plenty!

We can build up, prevent, fight, and overcome.

Everyone is rightly concerned about COVID, but there are many other upper respiratory infections ready to make us miserable. I’ll tell you what you can do. 

Try everything or pick and create your personal favorite strategy. For some, everything is necessary. For others, one or a few modifications will glide you happily and seamlessly through the minefield of infectious symptoms.

Vaccinate. A current influenza vaccination substantially reduces susceptibility to the flu virus, even if the shot is not specifically targeting the actual predator. Weigh the side effects against the benefits. Talk with your doctor. The benefits win. The Pertussis vaccine, given as the DPT every 10 years, is amazingly effective. This is because an active upper respiratory infection makes you predisposed to pertussis [AKA: Whooping Cough]. Children and infants have the “whoop.” Adults usually get what is known as the “100-day cough.” What a pain.

Drink lots of fluids. You hear this one all the time. But most of us do not hydrate adequately. After all, mild dehydration is asymptomatic, and we can’t be checking our serum chemistries routinely as a guide. Unless you have a medical condition that prohibits intake of excess water, just assume you have a fluid deficit. Dry winter air, indoor heating, exercise, and mouth breathing cause this imbalance. Increase your water intake for prevention and treatment of colds. Use a slightly expanded urine output as a rough guide.

Spray your nostrils with saline nose spray daily as a preventive. This repairs the local lining tissue, enhancing resistance.

Wear a knit hat day and night to thin the sinus secretions, thus avoiding thickened mucus buildup, which provides the environment for viral growth. This is also part of an effective strategy to treat an established sinus infection.

Don’t shake hands or kiss people. Advice given to prevent COVID-19 spread also apply to influenza and rhinovirus. Try bowing as a greeting. Or at least the elbow bump.

Wash your hands frequently with soap or skin sanitizer. Sound familiar? 

Wearing a mask works to inhibit transmission of all airborne infectious diseases.

TREATING A COLD:

If you have a respiratory infection, assume you are at least mildly dehydrated. (Warning: Do not start drinking large quantities of liquids if your doctor has prescribed fluid restriction.) When you get a cold, increase your intake of water, juice, etc. You should observe an increase in urinary frequency and volume as the immediate consequence of drinking more. Parenthetically, drinking caffeinated beverages are somewhat counterproductive because of the diuretic effects of caffeine (caffeine dehydrates more).  

Besides systemic water replacement, topical hydration is also an important component of treating colds. THere are several strategies that are successfully employed: 

Humidify your bedroom. A hot air humidifier is best because you are breathing pure water vapor. Safety is an issue using a hot air humidifier, especially if children or pets have access to the device. 

A cold air humidifier is also good, but you should only fill it with distilled water. If tap water is used, the minerals are vaporized with the water. Breathing these may impede healing. On the other hand, there is no risk of burns from cold air.

Infection, inflammation, allergy, irritation, and aging all thin the protective sinus mucosa. This status reduces resistance to infection and lessens the ability to heal. Topically applied saline stimulates healthy thickening of this tissue. Irrigate your nasal passages with high volume saline infusion, using a neti pot or a sinus rinse. These tools are available commercially and provide the volume of saline to be effective. Do this 4 times a day. Nose spray is less effective for established inflammation. 

Gargle warm salt water.

Breathe steam. Boil water, take it off the heat source, and put it in a pot. Sit with your face over the steaming pot and cover your head with a towel to create a little high humidity “tent.” This will thin and drain the secretions. Be careful not to burn yourself.

Add menthol or eucalyptus oil to the steaming water. Many find this beneficial. 

Or try breathing brandy vapors:

While over the  pot of hot water and breathing the steam, pour a little brandy into the water. Use about one shot, added in small increments. It will quickly vaporize. Be sure you have your head right over the steaming water to get that first whiff. It’s a little irritating, but the bugs don’t like it either. Continue to breathe in the residual vapors until the smell fades. Then repeat. Do this 3-4 times a day. The improvement is often felt immediately.

Wear a hat. Daytime, nighttime. This heats the sinuses and thins the secretions, allowing them to drain properly. Thick sinus mucosa provides a great environment for viruses and bacteria to thrive. Draining the sinuses in this way overcomes these pesky invaders.

Take Vitamin C. This regimen works best if you have been taking a multivitamin and extra Vitamin C (250 mG. to 500 mg.) habitually.  Add 500 to 1,000 mg. daily when you become ill. The chronic intake of extra Vitamin C helps prevent colds. It also acclimates your body to using this nutrient, enabling your body to more efficiently and effectively utilize an increased dose to fight an acute illness.. 

Take echinacea. This herb treats respiratory infections. But it is not useful as a preventive measure. When taken chronically, it increases the risk of developing a cold. 

Drink hot fluids. This provides steam and thins the secretions, which enhances drainage.

Lots of people find that various zinc supplements relieve cold symptoms. These are most effective when allowed to dissolve sublingually (under the tongue). The taste is not the best, but more preparations have dealt with that problem. Follow the directions on the bottle.

There is a yoga posture called “The Lion.” Imagine a lion sitting up on its behind. Sit on your feet with your knees bent. An easier way would be to sit on your knees (on a padded surface), with your hands reaching in front of you down to the floor. Your hands would be between your feet or your knees. Your head is up and looking forward.

Sort of reminiscent of a lion.

Extend your chin forward and stick your tongue out as far as you can and hold this posture. You will feel a straining sensation in your neck. This tightening up of the cervical muscles is drawing more blood flow to your neck and throat. Blood is healing for a throat infection.

Feel better quickly.