First signs of a cold in an adult

A collective term for many respiratory diseases is a cold. Let's look at its first signs, methods of treatment and prevention in children and adults.

Most often, cold symptoms occur in the autumn-spring period, when the weather is bad outside and the body is weakened.

Causes of colds in adults

For the disease to develop, two factors are necessary: contact with an infection and weakened immunity. The latter can be caused by poor nutrition, emotional stress, unfavorable environmental conditions, bad habits, and chronic diseases. In 90% of cases, the infectious agent is a virus that is transmitted by airborne droplets.

In some cases, cold infections go unnoticed, causing the patient to miss the opportunity to eliminate them at an early stage. During this period, the following symptoms occur:

• Sore throat and pain in the throat.
• Coughing fits.
• Lacrimation.
• Headaches.
• Subfebrile body temperature.
• Nasal congestion.
• Increased fatigue.

After 2-3 days, the above symptoms begin to increase and the cold lingers for a long period of time. If a cold is suffered on its feet or not treated properly, there is a risk of complications. This could be otitis, sinusitis, sinusitis, bronchial asthma, etc. Therefore, it is very important to timely identify signs of the disease and treat them correctly.

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The first symptoms of a cold

General and muscular weakness, stuffy nose, headaches, sneezing, sore throat – these are the symptoms of the first days of a cold. They last about 2-3 days, gradually progressing. As the disease progresses, a cough, runny nose, and elevated body temperature appear.

To prevent persistent deterioration of general health and development of complications, treatment should be started when the first signs of an impending disease appear. To do this, it is necessary to conduct immunotherapy, that is, to strengthen the body. It will be useful to drink plenty of fluids and a balanced diet, bed rest.

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Sneezing is the first sign of a cold

An unconditioned reflex aimed at removing a virus, mucus, allergen or other irritant from the body is sneezing. Most often, this phenomenon indicates a cold infection.

Sneezing occurs due to the penetration of the virus into the body through the nasal passages and irritation of the epithelial cilia of the mucous membrane. The patient feels itching in the nose, a reflex contraction of the muscles of the nasopharynx and respiratory system occurs, and the irritant and mucus come out of the nasal cavity under pressure. That is, sneezing can be called a protective mechanism of the body, which prevents further penetration of the virus, eliminating it mechanically.

If this cold symptom occurs very often and causes significant discomfort, then you should rinse your nose. The following products are suitable for the procedure:

• Solutions based on sea salt.
• Medicinal infusions.
• Plant and vegetable juices.
• Warm water.
• Antiseptic solutions.

The selected remedy is instilled a couple of drops into each nostril, and then carefully blown, removing mucus and irritant naturally. Many solutions for rinsing dry out the mucous membrane, which is very effective for allergic rhinitis.

When sneezing, do not cover your nose with your fingers, because this will prevent the infection from being removed, but will instead enter the paranasal sinuses and ears. This is precisely why the most common complications of colds occur - sinusitis, otitis. It should be taken into account that when you sneeze, bacterial agents fly away several meters along with saliva. Therefore, in order not to infect others, you should cover your mouth with a handkerchief.

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What to do on the first day of a cold?

So, if a cold has already set in, you need to do everything to prevent its further development. The first thing that doctors recommend for symptoms of illness is proper rest and sleep. Thanks to this, the body uses more resources of the immune system to fight the problem.

• Drinking plenty of fluids will be helpful. Warm teas, berry fruit drinks, rosehip and blackcurrant decoctions are suitable for treatment. You can drink tea or warm milk with honey, purified water.
• As for nutrition, priority should be given to fermented milk products, low-fat meat and chicken broths, vegetables and fruits. It is better to refuse alcohol, fatty, sweet, salty, smoked foods. In the first days of the disease, smoking is not recommended, since this bad habit contributes to the spread of infection.
• In case of sore throat, you can rinse and inhale steam. If nasal breathing is impaired, then rinsing with an isotonic solution will help. Also, do not forget about regular ventilation of the room and minimal contact with the environment until recovery.

Such simple recommendations allow you to cope with the disease when its first signs appear.

How to treat a cold that is starting?

If you leave a cold untreated, it, like any other disease, can lead to various complications. To prevent this from happening, therapy should be started when the first symptoms appear:

• Elevated body temperature.
• General weakness and lethargy.
• Nausea.
• Lack of appetite.
• Headaches.
• Stuffy nose and sore throat.

First of all, you should increase your drinking regime. Warm liquid washes away pathogens from the mucous membranes and speeds up their elimination. Also, drinking plenty of fluids helps prevent dehydration at elevated body temperature and increased sweating. To speed up recovery, drinks and products with ascorbic acid will be useful.

Bed rest plays an important role. Thanks to this, the body can use its entire energy potential to fight viruses, and not to perform other processes. A cold suffered on your feet very often ends in serious complications.

For the treatment of adults, symptomatic medications can be taken: Coldrex, Fervex, Teraflu. To increase the protective properties of the immune system, interferon-based medications will be useful: Arbidol, Antigrippin, Kagocel, Cycloferon, Ergoferon. For a runny nose, rinsing with an isotonic solution or vasoconstrictor drops will help: Naphthyzinum, Galazolin, Nazosprey. Paracetamol-based medications are suitable for reducing body temperature.

How to treat the first symptoms of a cold?

Treatment of early stages of colds should begin with increasing the immune system's defenses and further symptomatic therapy. However, do not rush to the pharmacy for medications, as colds can be cured without them.

In the first days of the disease, it is necessary to stay in bed so as not to infect others and not to provoke a sharp development of the disease. It is also recommended to drink a large amount of warm liquid, herbal decoctions and infusions.

If you have a sore throat, gargling with infusions and decoctions of chamomile, sage, and calendula will help. Steam inhalations are effective for coughs and stuffy noses. Easily digestible foods should predominate in the diet.

What to take at the first signs of a cold?

Any disease responds well to treatment in the early stages. This also applies to colds. The earlier their treatment is started, the lower the risk of complications. For both adults and children, therapy should consist of plenty of warm drinks, bed rest and a balanced diet.

For headaches, high temperature and runny nose, you can use drugs based on Paracetamol. For sore throats, use topical drugs with antiseptic and antimicrobial properties: Septefril, Falimint, Sebidin. Gargling with a decoction of sage, coltsfoot, chamomile will be effective.

Also, do not forget about vitamin therapy to strengthen the immune system. If you take ascorbic acid at the first symptoms of discomfort, the duration of the disease will decrease. Vitamin C in combination with retinol affects viruses and bacteria, increases the protective properties of the immune system. Vitamins should not be taken longer than 3-5 days.

What should an adult take at the first signs of a cold?

The off-season and cold season is the period of colds. Most often, the painful condition is associated with hypothermia. Itching and burning in the nose, sore throat, increased lacrimation, sneezing, coughing fits appear. Against this background, a runny nose and headaches quickly appear, and general well-being worsens. It is also possible for the body temperature to rise to 38°C and higher.

At the first signs of illness, you must adhere to the following rules:

• If possible, do not leave the house; if you have a fever, it is better to stay in bed. Ventilate the room more often and do wet cleaning.
• Drink more liquids. Juices, compotes, decoctions based on rose hips, chamomile, linden, raspberries, black currants will be useful. Strong tea or coffee is better replaced with warm milk with honey.
• The diet should be dominated by easily digestible foods, preferably fermented milk products, vegetables, fruits, and low-fat broths.
• If your nose is stuffy, drops based on saline solutions will help - Aquamaris, Saline. You can make a solution for rinsing yourself by diluting a tablespoon of salt in a liter of boiled water and adding a couple of drops of iodine.
• Warm drinks and gargling will help with sore throat and irritation. Antiseptic solutions are used for gargling: Furacilin, Miramistin. You can also use a solution of a teaspoon of salt, iodine and soda in a glass of water.
• Inhalations with essential oils of coniferous plants are very helpful in easing nasal breathing.
• To increase the immune system's defenses, you can take medications containing interferon.

If the disease develops quickly, is accompanied by a high body temperature and poor health, then before going to bed you can take Fervex, Pentaflucin, Coldrex or another combination remedy for symptomatic treatment of colds.

First aid for colds

The first thing that doctors recommend when treating respiratory diseases is home/bed rest. This allows you to prevent infection of others and fully comply with all further treatment recommendations. The patient should be provided with plenty of fluids and dietary adjustments.

To clear the nose, it is better to buy drops with an isotonic solution, rather than vasoconstrictors, which are addictive. You can gargle with antiseptic solutions of Miramistin or Furacilin. Steam inhalations with boiled potatoes or essential oils will also help. Before going to bed, you can take a warm bath with eucalyptus essential oil or make a foot bath with coniferous plant extract, mustard.

In most cases, the above recommendations help to overcome the malaise at its early symptoms. If the illness lasts more than 4 days, is accompanied by a high body temperature and a rapid deterioration in general health, then you should immediately seek medical help. The doctor will prescribe a comprehensive treatment that will quickly eliminate the unpleasant symptoms and the root cause of the cold.

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Inhalations at the first signs of a cold

One of the popular means for the treatment and prevention of irritation of the mucous membrane of the oropharynx during colds is inhalation. They are carried out using special devices - inhalers, nebulizers. The therapeutic effect is achieved due to the penetration of the drug into the inflammation site, bypassing the gastrointestinal tract and other organs and systems.

Benefits of inhalation therapy for early cold symptoms:

• Direct impact on the inflammation zone.
• The drug is not absorbed into the systemic bloodstream and does not cause adverse reactions to other organs.
• Possibility of treating patients of all ages.
• High penetrating power.

For inhalation, you can use the following means:

1. Essential and natural oils – effectively and gently affect the mucous membrane. They can cause allergic reactions, so before using them, you should consult with your doctor. The oil concentration should be no more than 5%.
2. Saline solutions - sodium chloride 0.9% softens and cleanses the mucous membrane of the nose and oropharynx when harmful substances and allergens enter. The use of a 2% hypertonic solution cleanses mucopurulent deposits.
3. Alkaline solutions - 2% sodium bicarbonate solution liquefies sputum and creates an alkaline environment in the inflammation site. Inhalations effectively remove mucopurulent discharge from the nasal cavity.
4. Mucolytics - liquefy sputum and promote its discharge. Acetylcysteine, Mukomist, Lazolvan, Pulmocort are used for inhalations. The dosage of the drug and the duration of therapy are determined by the doctor.
5. Bronchodilators - expand the lumen of the bronchi and bronchioles, facilitate breathing and prevent the development of broncho-obstructive syndrome. The following drugs are most often used for treatment: Atrovent, Berodual, Berotek, Salbutamol.
6. Anti-inflammatory agents – reduce the inflammatory process, reduce swelling of the mucous membrane, and alleviate the painful condition. When performing inhalations, you can use the following solutions: Rotokan, Eucalyptus, Propolis, Calendula, Malavit.

Inhalations are performed 1-1.5 hours after meals. It is not recommended to eat, talk, or go outside for an hour after the procedure. The prepared solution should be stored in the refrigerator for no more than 24 hours. Before use, the solution is warmed up to room temperature.

If several drugs are used simultaneously, then the order must be followed. Bronchodilators are used first, then thinners, mucolytics and anti-inflammatory drugs. The duration of treatment depends on the severity of painful symptoms and is 3-7 days.

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What should pregnant women drink at the first signs of a cold?

Treatment of colds in pregnant women requires special attention. This is due to the rapid deterioration of general well-being and the progression of painful symptoms. Because of this, there is a risk of complications for both the expectant mother and the child.

First of all, it is a threat of spontaneous miscarriage or premature birth, inflammatory complications for the woman, exacerbation of chronic diseases, as well as a significant increase in the risk of blood loss during the birth process. The disease is also dangerous for the child: intrauterine growth retardation, oxygen starvation, intrauterine infections.

When early symptoms of the disease appear, you should follow these rules:

• Drink plenty of warm fluids and a balanced diet. Natural decoctions and infusions with rose hips and black currants will be useful, as they contain a large amount of ascorbic acid, which has a beneficial effect on the immune system. Green tea with lemon, raspberries, and honey is recommended. In the later stages of pregnancy, drinking plenty of fluids will help with swelling.
• For treatment, you can inhale with eucalyptus essential oil, the vapors of which destroy pathogenic microorganisms and reduce swelling of the mucous membrane. For a sore throat, it is better to inhale with a soda solution, chamomile, calendula, sage infusion.
• If the cold is accompanied by a sore throat and pain, then gargling with a solution of salt, soda and iodine, infusions of chamomile, calendula, eucalyptus is recommended. In case of a runny nose, the room should be regularly ventilated and humidified. A physiological solution of sodium chloride can be used to rinse the nose.

During the treatment, pregnant women are contraindicated to steam their feet and take hot baths, visit baths and saunas, use mustard plasters and any preparations based on licorice root. Also, do not overuse honey and raspberries, as this can lead to increased uterine tone and the development of allergies in the fetus.

If the above methods do not help and the disease progresses, then after consultation with the attending physician, it is possible to use medications.

• High temperature – paracetamol-based drugs. Ibuprofen, NSAIDs, Coldrex, Teraflu, Fervex and other complex drugs are prohibited.
• Cough and runny nose - in the first case, Mucaltin and Ambroxol will help, and in case of a runny nose, Pinosol drops, Sinupret, vasoconstrictor drugs are contraindicated.
• Sore throat - gargling solutions based on the following medications are suitable for treatment: Chlorhexidine, Lugol, Miramistin, Ingalipt.
• To enhance the protective properties of the immune system, it is recommended to take Oscillococcinum, Viferon, Grippferon.

As for antibiotic therapy, there is no need for them in the early stages of a cold. If the disease has caused a number of serious complications, the decision on the advisability of their use is made by the doctor. Macrolides, penicillin and cephalosporin drugs are allowed for expectant mothers. Tetracyclines, fluoroquinolones, aminoglycosides and sulfonamides are prohibited.

How to stop the onset of a cold?

Headache, cough, fever and general weakness are signs of a cold. There is no special medicine that would eliminate the entire symptom complex. But there are several proven treatment methods that allow you to stop the onset of the pathological process.

• Chop a couple of cloves of garlic and mix with the same amount of honey. Take 1-2 teaspoons a day with warm water. The healing effect of garlic is explained by the increased content of phytoncides, that is, natural antibiotics.
• Tea with lemon and honey. The drink should be at a comfortable temperature so as not to burn the inflamed throat. Honey has bactericidal properties, envelops the mucous membrane and reduces painful symptoms. Lemon is an antiseptic, it supplies the body with ascorbic acid and normalizes metabolic processes.
• Raspberry tea – to prepare an antipyretic and diaphoretic drink, pour 100 g of fresh berries, leaves, a couple of spoons of jam or dried fruits with 300 ml of boiling water and let it brew for 20-30 minutes. If desired, strain and take ½ cup 4-5 times a day. Raspberries contain salicylic acid, which is a natural aspirin. The berry increases sweating, accelerates the removal of toxic substances from the body.
• Take a liter of fresh milk, add 1/3 cup of honey, ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract, cinnamon and nutmeg. Mix everything thoroughly and put on low heat, adding a bay leaf and a couple of black allspice peas to the milk. As soon as the mixture boils, remove it from the stove and let it brew for 5-10 minutes. The decoction supports the immune system and speeds up the recovery process.

The above mentioned treatment methods are effective when early symptoms of the disease appear. But before using them, you should take into account the presence of contraindications. Honey is prohibited for people with diabetes. Lemon and garlic should be used with caution in case of gastrointestinal diseases, and raspberries are not recommended for hypertensive patients and people with cardiovascular diseases.

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How to avoid getting sick at the first signs of a cold?

One of the features of a cold is that it occurs at any time of the year. In order not to get sick, you should follow these rules:

• Avoid cold, drafts and dampness. Dress for the weather, do not overdo it with cold drinks and air conditioning in the summer.
• Maintain personal hygiene. Wash your hands before each meal and after visiting public places.
• Ventilate the room regularly and carry out wet cleaning.
• Strengthen your body, maintain physical fitness.
• Take multivitamin supplements and eat a balanced diet.
• Get more rest and sleep, avoid stress.

Very often the first signs of a cold are associated with a weakened immune system. To increase its protective properties, timely treatment of any diseases, rational nutrition, and vaccination are recommended.

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