(Newswire.net — June 28, 2016) — Although the summer usually means colds and flu viruses dampen down, people still develop symptoms. This seems particularly unfair when you have beautiful weather to enjoy and you’ve spent a winter dealing with illness.
Summer colds can be viral infections or due to hay fever and allergies. In general, if your runny nose or cough produces coloured mucus then it’s a cold. If discharges are clear it’s likely you have an allergy, particularly if it’s a high pollen count day or you’re near an activity such as lawn cutting.
Here are some ways to treat summer cold symptoms using natural methods.
- Use a Humidifier or Diffuser
Hot days and air conditioning dry out your nasal passages making it easier for germs to enter. A dry throat, nostrils and eyes make a summer cold feel even worse. To combat this use a humidifier at night. Pushing some moisture back into the air can make all the difference. If you add some essential oils, such as peppermint or eucalyptus, this will help break down mucus.
- Avoid Hay fever
Hay fever can easily be mistaken for a cold. Generally if you have irritation and itching, you’re suffering hay fever. It happens when the immune views pollen as a threat and releases anti-bodies to attack it. This leads to a release of chemicals like histamine, which produce cold-like symptoms.
To combat it, close doors and windows even in your car. Dry washing inside to avoid trapped pollen and wear sunglasses. If pollen counts are high put petroleum jelly inside your nostrils and on your eyelashes to help catch pollen and spores.
If you feel a shortness of breath or tight-chested it’s worth getting checked for asthma. Allergens, which cause hay fever or summer colds such as animal dander, pollen, mould, mites, can also trigger asthma. Colds and hay fever can trigger an attack, which can hospitalise or even prove fatal.
- Eat Decongesting Foods
You are what you eat! Some experts suggest leaving off dairy products and load up on spicier foods that work as natural decongestants instead. Curry, horseradish, garlic and pepper can fight that blocked up feeling.
- Take Echinacea
Taking Echinacea as a supplement can support your immune system. It’s thought to boost white blood cells. It can help during a cold but taken in advance it prepares the immune system to fight off germs before they take hold.
- Food Supplements
Ginger and turmeric are natural foods that fight inflammation and infection. They’ve been used for centuries in herbalist medicine. Make tea, take supplements and use them fresh in your coking to boost your body’s natural flu-fighting prowess.
- Saline Irrigation
Dehumidifiers aren’t for everyone. If you can’t tolerate them try a saline irrigation instead because it will put some moisture back into your nasal passages.
Nasal flushes are great at loosening mucus and for soothing irritation. Pour warm mildly salty water into one nostril and flush it from the other. It takes practice but it’s worth mastering the technique.
- Vitamin C
Vitamin C won’t cure your cold but a study has shown it will help reduce its duration.
Vitamin C is plentiful in the summer months. Citrus fruits such as oranges, strawberries limes and raspberries are loaded as is broccoli and other leafy green veg.
- Hydration
We need plenty of plain water to keep our cells functioning correctly, but few of us drink enough. Try to drink water throughout the day particularly if you’re unwell. Imagine your body is a plant in the summer time. It needs watering or it’ll wilt.
Eating plenty of fruits such apples or melon and veggies like cucumber or lettuce as they also boost your water supplies.
Water with honey is a natural cold fighter but not many of us want hot drinks when the sun is beating down. Try ice tea with honey instead to soothe a sore throat.
- Get Enough Sleep
Your body need rest to recover from illness and its thought we don’t get enough sleep. The Sleep Foundation recommends 7-9 hours of sleep per night for adults and between 9-11 for school age children.
It’s not always easy given our busy schedules, but if you find time to put your feet up your body will fight infection and repair damage more effectively.
Summer colds are disheartening especially if you have fun times with family and vacations planned, so organise yourself in advance. Buy in supplies, keep an eye on the pollen count and take preventative measures by washing your hands frequently, eating well and sleeping enough.
Sources:
http://www.everydayhealth.com/cold-and-flu/how-to-sweat-out-a-summer-cold.aspx
http://www.modernalternativehealth.com/2013/06/28/natural-remedies-for-a-summer-cold/
http://www.livestrong.com/article/152122-summer-cold-remedies/
http://www.ghc.org/healthAndWellness/?item=/common/healthAndWellness/healthyLi ving/lifestyle/hideg-summer-cold.html
https://www.healthexpress.co.uk/asthma#3
http://www.webmd.boots.com/allergies/guide/summer-allergies
https://sleepfoundation.org/how-sleep-works/how-much-sleep-do-we-really-need