As a child, at the first sign of a cold, my mother surrounded us with care and did everything so that a common cold would not develop into a more serious illness. And if then we easily and simply stayed at home and happily skipped classes, now you go to work in any state and try to fulfill your direct job duties. Therefore, every adult begins sooner or later to think about the question: I'm starting to get sick, what should I do?
First signs of a cold
Before you take any, you need to know exactly what symptoms apply specifically to a cold:
- itching and burning in the nose, which makes you constantly want to scratch your nose;
- frequent sneezing, but only if the person does not suffer from allergies (if a person starts sneezing, a doctor can tell you how not to get sick);
- increasedtearing that follows immediately after sneezing and itching in the nose;
- possible nasal congestion;
- feeling of general weakness, throughout the day I want to lie down, sleep;
- headache caused by nasal congestion;
- muscle soreness, aching feeling;
- increase in body temperature, but not higher than 38 degrees.
In the event that several symptoms appear at once, a person immediately realizes: I am starting to get sick. What to do? Moreover, you need to take any action immediately, because this is the only way to prevent complications.
Basic steps to take at the first sign of a cold
Not all folk remedies that we remember from childhood can be used when the first symptoms of a cold appear. For example, steaming your legs or taking a hot bath is possible only if there is no high temperature and other contraindications.
Therefore, every adult needs to clearly know what to do at the first sign of a cold. The following measures will help ease the flow:
- If the body temperature has risen, then it is necessary to observe bed rest, because due to the fight against infection, the body loses a lot of strength.
- Ventilate the room regularly. This will kill the bacteria and not create favorable conditions for their reproduction.
- Drink plenty of liquids, preferably hot tea, which is recommended to add honey or ginger, or a rosehip drink.
- Periodicallygargle with special medicinal decoctions, such as chamomile or calendula. It is allowed to use special solutions using soda, s alt, iodine, furatsilina.
- Rinse your nose with s alt water or a special tool that can be purchased at a pharmacy. You can prepare a saline solution yourself by adding a teaspoon of s alt to a glass of warm water.
- Cough helps warm milk, in which you need to dissolve honey and butter. You can apply a warm compress, but only at normal body temperature.
And, of course, do not forget about vitamins, which are huge in fruits and vegetables. And if a person thinks like this: "I'm starting to get a cold. What should I do? Only a doctor can tell," then it will definitely be possible to avoid the consequences. After all, the timely help of a specialist will always come in handy.
What not to do?
It is not recommended to bring down the temperature at first. This is a natural reaction of the body to infection, which means that the fight against the disease is in full swing. However, it is still worth paying attention to general well-being. If the temperature is too poorly tolerated, then you can bring down the temperature with Nurofen.
You cannot risk your he alth, and if you are getting worse every day, it is better to call a doctor at home. Remember that the common cold, if left untreated, can cause a sore throat or pneumonia.
Medicated treatment
Starting to get sick. What to do? Cantake a number of medicines that are sure to be in almost every home. Well, it's best not to neglect the advice of a specialist who will prescribe the right treatment.
There are a huge number of medications that are designed to make you feel better and speed up your recovery. The most popular and effective are:
- "AnviMax", which includes vitamin C, paracetamol and loratadine. The therapeutic effect is felt within 30 minutes after taking the drug.
- "Pinosol" - nose drops that are recommended by most doctors, because they are made on the basis of natural ingredients, which means that the risk of side effects and addiction is minimal.
- "Suprastin" is an antihistamine that can reduce swelling in the mucous membrane of the nose and throat.
- "Tantum Verde" is a spray that is used to treat the throat.
It is worth remembering that the earlier a person paid attention to his condition and found the first signs of a cold in himself, started treatment on time, the greater the likelihood of preventing further development of the disease. When the thought appears in my head: "I'm starting to get a cold, what should I do?" - a doctor can help.
Cold child: first aid
Especially relevant is the question of what to do at the first sign of a cold in a child. You can help the baby, but only if you do not panic.
First of all, you need to find out if you havechild's temperature. If it is elevated, but below 38 degrees, it is not worth knocking it down. You need to give your body time to fight off the infection on its own. If it is above 38 degrees, then it is recommended to give an antipyretic, such as Nurofen. If this remedy does not help and the temperature continues to rise, you need to wipe the child with warm water (vodka and vinegar cannot be used).
Next steps
After the child's condition has stabilized, it is necessary to give an antiviral drug, such as "Anaferon". Inhalations with medicines or mineral water will also be useful. If there is no special device for inhalation, you can use a folk remedy - breathe over boiled potatoes. The effect of such a remedy is complex: getting rid of a cough, treating a throat, eliminating the symptoms of a cold. What to drink when you start to get sick, only a doctor will tell. Therefore, it is better not to postpone the trip to him.
Remember that when the first symptoms of a cold appear, you should never immediately take antibiotics in the hope that the disease will disappear in one day. Such miraculous drugs do not exist, and improper treatment can lead to undesirable consequences. "What if I start to get sick? What should I do in such a situation?" - you ask. Answer: listen to your own body. He himself will tell you what he needs: he gets sleepy - go to bed, if you want to eat a certain product - eat it. And never go to work or anywhere elsein this condition.
