D-19 before fall... You have to get used to it! If there are various reasons to rejoice in the return of the season, it still includes its share of annoyances, diseases in the front line. And the "star" of this half-season is of course the common cold which, each year, plays it tenaciously among millions of French people. So we anticipate and we now take note of the right actions not to cure it – it seems that there is no miracle cure – but to relieve the symptoms and shorten it. The first advice is to continue to drink and eat normally:water, juices, soups and broths effectively help reduce congestion and prevent dehydration, unlike alcohol, coffee and carbonated drinks which are therefore to be avoided. As for food, British doctor Robert Clarke advises increasing the intake of vitamin C and zinc with a balanced diet based on green vegetables, fruits and non-concentrated juices. The practitioner adds that it is essential to rest:continuing to be active will only delay recovery and increase the risk of contaminating those around you.
Against the onset of a sore throat, lozenges are to be preferred:they reduce pain and help fight infection before the cold sets in for a long time. Boiled sugar candies, ice cream sticks or gargling with salt water are also recommended. Against all odds, constantly blowing your nose to relieve a very stuffy nose is not a solution:doctors explain that this gesture can further irritate the mucous membrane that covers the nasal cavity, which can make congestion last. Instead, it is better to use a saline solution spray (available without a prescription) which will unclog the nostrils before blowing your nose. Last but not least:a physical exercise session that lasts between 30 and 60 minutes can have beneficial effects since it will raise the body temperature, and cold viruses can only persist at around 37 degrees. . Be careful though, sport is effective only at the very beginning of the disease! If you already have difficulty breathing, it's like we told you earlier:REST! May the force be with you…
