Here it comes. A subtly sore throat and flashbacks of swigging cherry cough medicine are sure signs of future days off work. There's that stuffy nose, your head feeling heavier than a wrecking ball, chills and a red, raw nose. The common cold has hit.
After extensive online research, the follow are the most common and natural ways to eliminate a cold. These five tips are ways to help prevent a cold caught early on.
1) Gargle- This may seem like your mom's home remedy, but experts consistently point to gargling as an effective way to relieve a sore throat. According to a WebMD interview with Charles Inlander, president of The People's Medical Society, gargling moistens the throat and temporarily relieves throat irritation (1). There are also various teas and honeys you can use in your gargling solution that will reduce throat irritation, if you want to get fancy.
2) Get steamy- Whether it's taking a hot shower, slowing sipping a bowl of chicken noodle soup, or having your nose hoover over a hot cup of tea, steam relieves congestion. Also, drinking liquids such as tea and chicken broth hydrate the body to help fend off illnesses.
Java and Jack lovers beware, it's important to refrain from coffee, soda and alcohol when you're under the weather (2). These are all caffeinated products. Caffeine dehydrates the body, which is exactly what you don't want while your sick. While a tequila shot may temporarily clear up your sinuses, try to resist!
3) Take a Mental Break- Yes, this means you get to sleep! Take a day or two off work, sleep, lay in bed and de-stress. New York Times writer Jane Brody reported that psychological stress can lead to a cold, according to a study by researchers at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.
You are more prone to catch a cold if you're in a long-term and emotionally wearing stressful state of mind. This can causes the body to break down, Brody says. "It has to be long-term stress, lasting at least a month and stemming from a significant problem like being fired from a job after years of service or being left financially or emotionally bereft by a divorce. The researchers point out that stress is not the cause of all colds. Rather, people under severe stress are more likely to catch cold when exposed to a virus than people under milder stress," Brody says.
4) Take Vitamin C- This doesn't mean you need to pop vitamins daily, or stock up on SunnyD. It's the opposite actually. Since Vitamin C is naturally found in common foods such as sauerkraut and fruits like strawberries, cantaloupe and kiwi, doctors suggest you steer clear of SunnyD-like commercial juices because they're oxidized. This means they contain a lot of sugar and small amounts of actual Vitamin C (4).
5) Pile up the pillows- Adding an extra pillow under your head while sleeping will help to drain a stuffy nose (1). Doctors warn people about taking too much decongestant medication such as Sudafed because it will dry nasal passages and won't eliminate mucus that needs to be drained out (5). Instead, try adding another pillow, so while sleeping, mucus can drain appropriately.
Resources:
(1) http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/9-tips-to-treat-colds-and-flu-the-natural-way
(2) http://www.manageyourlifenow.com/Articles/tabid/60/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/21/10-Simple-Ways-to-Cure-Cold.aspx
(3) http://www.manageyourlifenow.com/Articles/tabid/60/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/21/10-Simple-Ways-to-Cure-Cold.aspx
(4)http://allwomenstalk.com/4-ways-to-prevent-getting-a-cold/
(5) http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/features/6-reasons-why-your-cold-lingers?page=2
Lauren is a journalist graduating in May from The Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University. She is passionate about health-related issues and has experience writing for state-wide publications.