Winter is the season of high incidence of colds, a variety of prevention and treatment of cold remedies by everyone’s attention. What is a cold, what should be done after a cold, the latest U.S. research reveals the answer to this series of questions. Three Truths about Colds A White Paper on Colds released by the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health in October 2010 reveals three truths about colds. The first “one”: Colds are a “syndrome” of upper respiratory tract infections caused by viruses, and there are more than 100 types of viruses that can trigger a cold; the second “one”: The second “one” is that the symptoms of a cold generally last for a week, with or without medication; and the third “one” is that a cold starts a day before the symptoms appear, when the virus has already taken up residence in your body. To be more precise, the cold virus lurks in your body for 18-48 hours and then suddenly breaks out. The earliest symptoms include sore throat, sneezing, stuffy and runny nose, and fatigue. In English, because “cold” and “cold” are the same word, many people think that colds are “frozen”. “This is not true. Whether you’re underdressed, walking barefoot on the ground or leaving the house without blow-drying your hair, none of these things will cause you to catch a cold – but they can lead to a lowered resistance, which allows viruses to take advantage of you.” American Registered Nurse Practitioner Phyllis? Brown says dryness, by contrast, is more likely to bring on a cold because the body’s mucous membranes’ ability to fight off viruses decreases due to a lack of water. Colds attack everyone differently. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, children catch eight to 10 colds a year, and schoolchildren get as many as 12, not because they are less resistant, but because children are closer and have a greater chance of spreading the virus. In contrast, “indifferent” adults get 2-4 colds per year, more women than men, and women in their 30s are the most susceptible because they are the main caretakers of children. After 60, the number of colds decreases to an average of one per year. It’s better to take medication than to rest The Cold and Flu White Paper also points out that many people don’t realize that there’s really no cure for a cold. Some people will take antibiotics, in fact, antibiotics can not destroy the virus, indiscriminate use of drugs may aggravate the condition. The main effect of cold and flu medicines is to relieve symptoms and make you feel better and rest better, but they don’t shorten the course of the illness. So what are the things you must do when you have a cold? According to the U.S. “health broadcast network”, the following nine things are essential. Step 1: Find a bed. After a cold, it is best to find yourself a comfortable bed to lie down. Don’t think about going to work, and don’t force yourself to go out to party, have fun or exercise. Liu Yuning, director of the respiratory department at the PLA General Hospital, said that sleep is the “best medicine for colds” and that it is important to get eight hours of sleep every day. If you can, it is best to take time off work to rest at home for 1-2 days, so that the disease can be less infected to others. Step 2: Take vitamin C. Whether you take vitamin C supplements or eat fruits rich in vitamin C, such as dates, oranges, kiwis, tangerines, grapefruit, etc., you can help relieve cold symptoms. Generally speaking, fruits with a strong acidic flavor have a lot of Vitamin C. Drinking orange juice can eliminate discomfort in the mouth while replenishing Vitamin C. Step 3: Eat a piece of dark chocolate. It not only can replenish antioxidants, the University of London research also shows that the theobromine contained therein has a cough suppressant effect. Step 4: Turn on your humidifier. Dry air in the fall and winter months can make your respiratory tract feel uncomfortable, so placing a humidifier next to your bed or couch can help you breathe better. It’s a good idea to clean it thoroughly before using it to avoid spreading viruses through it. Step 5: Eat fluids. Hot soup and hot porridge are good choices. It’s been said for centuries that chicken soup cures colds, and British scholars have found this to be true because certain ingredients in chicken soup can reduce coughing, and the steam from hot soup and hot porridge can help relieve nasal congestion. Step 6: Get a bigger glass of water. Make sure you drink 2,000 milliliters of water a day, some of which should ideally be an electrolyte drink. Step 7: Stay away from dairy products. Dairy products that are harder to digest, such as cheese, are best avoided when you have a cold, but you can drink some milk appropriately, says Liu Yuning. If you have a bad appetite, you can drink some yogurt. Step 8: Take over-the-counter medications. Over-the-counter medicines such as ibuprofen, paracetamol or cough syrup can reduce the symptoms of a cold. Although these medicines are not anti-viral, they can make you feel better, says Liu Yining. Step 9: Be patient and wait for it to pass. It will take about seven days for your illness to go away on its own. But if symptoms persist or worsen dramatically, it’s best to go to the hospital and get a doctor’s diagnosis. Three things you can do to combat a cold Colds and flu aren’t serious illnesses, but the persistent symptoms make it difficult for many people to sit still. In this regard, the Cold and Flu White Paper gives tips on how to relieve the three major symptoms of a sore throat, cough and nasal congestion. Sore throat: light salt water. Dissolve 7.5 grams of salt in 250 milliliters of warm water and gargle slowly to relieve a sore throat, every 6-8 hours. Don’t use harsh mouthwashes; they may exacerbate dryness of the airways. It is best to swallow harder foods slowly to avoid scratching the throat. If your voice is hoarse, avoid talking or shouting in noisy environments. You can also prepare some lozenges or sprays to use when symptoms are more severe. Cough: cough syrup. Coughing is one of the body’s means of removing exogenous substances, but a violent cough can disrupt sleep or cause chest pain. The best thing to do is to drink some cough syrup when you have a violent cough. Snot: Hot steam. It is best to use a soft tissue when blowing your nose, as this prevents it from being rubbed. Never blow your nose too hard, and the standard for the degree is so that you can’t hear a buzzing sound in your ears, so as not to cause damage to your eardrums. If the snot is hard to blow out, you can “smell” hot steam or peppermint oil, or use nasal drops There is no cure for colds, whether or not you take medication, the condition lasts up to a week, and medication will only make it worse.