The common cold is one of the most common conditions to suffer from and chances are that each individual will suffer from an attack of a common cold at least once every few months, let alone years. Some of the more common symptoms associated with a common cold include the development of a sore throat, a mild to splitting headache and a cough as a result of post nasal drip. A cold is a very common problem to be affected by because of the fact that there are more than 200 strains of virus that can cause it. Given the fact that children have immune systems that are still under development right upto the point they achieve physical maturity, they are the most susceptible victims to a cold. Despite the fact that a cold can develop at any time of the year, the environmental conditions prevalent during the winter make them more common at this time. The cold viruses are highly contagious and one of the most common methods of contracting the condition is by coming in contact with a person that is already affected. Moreover, one can also contract the virus by coming into contact with virus containing droplets in the air as well as touching some kind of surface that may contain the virus. Depending on the type of virus, the condition may also trigger a number of other problems within the body such as muscle aches and a decreased appetite.
Because of the fact that the condition is such a common one, there are a number of cold home remedies that one can always find online and through a variety of other sources such as the local bookstore. Running nose treatments and home remedies for a runny nose are regularly sought after in an attempt to stem the amount of discomfort that the condition causes. The millions of common cold virus droplets within the respiratory tract is one of the major factors of what causes runny nose and sneezing and it is these particles that need to be directly targeted when it comes to remedies that will help in how to stop a running nose.
Despite the fact that they are two very different medical conditions, a lot of people tend to get very confused when it comes to differentiating between a common cold and influenza. The primary distinction between the two is that influenza is caused by the influenza virus while the common cold is not. Symptoms wise - individuals suffering from influenza will usually experience a much more sudden onset of illness as well as increase in body temperature as well as more significant muscle aches as well as intensity in headaches. There are a number of laboratory tests that will also help substantially in identifying if the individual is suffering from influenza or the common cold.
As you will have noticed, apart from the various cold home remedies, garlic based lozenges are very commonly found in any medical or general store and are known to be very effective in dealing with the infections as well. One of the most effective home remedies for runny nose and watery eyes is to drink some amount of lime juice. Make sure that the concoction is a little warm and add a teaspoon of honey for taste. Another very effective method of how to stop a running nose naturally is to have a glass of warm milk and about 2 milligrams of asafetida and drink this concoction twice a day. Experiencing the onset of a runny nose and sneezing at night, during the morning, in cold weather or even during a pregnancy are rather common and can be dealt with by the help of a number of home remedies. Ginger is another ingredient that is known to be a very effective form of treatment and should be used by taking a small piece of ginger and cutting it up into small pieces and putting it into water to boil before allowing it to simmer and then straining the liquid. When it has cooled down, you should make it a point to drink this in considerable quantities over the course of the day.
Antibiotics should not be used in order to treat the common cold at any time because of the fact that they will only tend to make the condition substantially worse. The only time you should even consider the use of antibiotics is when you suffer from thick greenish or yellow nasal discharge for more than a period of 10 to 14 days. Avoid eating very spicy food as this is usually the main culprit when it comes to what causes a runny nose while eating because it causes the skin pores to open up. Any alternative treatments for a common cold should incorporate as much of Vitamin C, Zinc and Echinacea as possible.
answered by A S