“Salt can burn the mucous membrane”: the doctor exposed the main myths about the treatment of the common cold

- What is called a cold and how does it usually go away?

- A cold is usually called SARS - a number of infectious diseases caused by various viruses, usually occurring with damage to the upper respiratory tract. Most often, the disease is manifested by a runny nose, pain or sore throat, a feeling of dry mucous membranes, cough, an increase in body temperature to 38.5 degrees. The incubation period depends on the specific virus, it can be from 1 to 14 days, after which one or more of the above symptoms appear.

- What to do at the first sign of a cold?

- When you show the first symptoms of a cold, it is better to stay at home so as not to infect other people and provide yourself with rest: give up work and postpone household chores. Our body needs strength to fight infection, not to clean or fill out work reports.

It is also important to remember the need to drink plenty of fluids. With an increase in body temperature, evaporation of moisture from the skin and mucous membranes increases. This loss must be made up for. Drinks should be warm, since hot additionally irritates the mucous membranes, and cold causes vascular spasm - this weakens the immune response and slows down recovery. And our antibodies on the mucous membranes must exist in a moist environment, otherwise they will work worse. In this regard, it is worth maintaining humidity in the room at least 50% and often ventilate it - a sick person secretes viral particles, the less they will be around you, the less you will infect yourself again.

- How to treat a cold at home with an uncomplicated course?

- Cough with SARS is caused by damage to the mucous membranes, thereby causing a feeling of dryness. The best way to deal with such symptoms is to irrigate the mucous membranes. You can buy a special device for inhalation (nebulizer) and breathe through it with saline solution 3-4 times a day. You can also gargle and wash your nose with solutions of antiseptics or salt solutions, which can be purchased in the finished form at the pharmacy. But it is worth cautioning readers from creating salt solutions on their own. Yes, in fact, it is just salt water, but at home it is difficult to observe sterility in the manufacture, and you can easily overdo the concentration of the solution - if it turns out to be too steep, you can easily "burn" them already damaged mucosa, and this will significantly slow down recovery. With nasal congestion, you can use any vasoconstrictor drops in the nose. However, it is important to remember that without a doctor's prescription, such drugs can not be used for more than 5 days, since there is a risk of developing addiction.

With an increase in body temperature, antipyretic drugs can be used. The most popular of these are paracetamol and ibuprofen. You only need to ensure that you do not exceed the maximum daily dose of these drugs. In paracetamol it is 4 g (maximum single dose of 1000 mg), in ibuprofen - 1200 mg (maximum single dose of 400 mg).

- What can't you do for a cold?

- With a cold, you should not be heroic and carry it on your feet - this will not only slow your recovery, but also spread the infection to your surroundings.

In no case should you take antibiotics without a doctor's prescription. Remember that antibiotics are effective only against bacteria, and against viruses they are absolutely useless.

- How to distinguish a cold from the flu?

- With the flu, the disease usually begins very sharply. The body temperature immediately rises above 38.5 ° C. A runny nose is extremely rare. Usually, an increase in body temperature is accompanied by a feeling of drying behind the sternum and a dry cough. With the flu, this temperature is very poorly knocked down by antipyretics and lasts exactly 5 days.

- When should I see a doctor for a cold?

- You should consult a doctor if:

body temperature rises above 38.5 ° C and is poorly broken by antipyretic;

there was shortness of breath at rest, respiratory rate above 22 per minute. If at home there is a pulse oximeter, then you can monitor the saturation of blood with oxygen. Indications less than 95% - a reason to consult a doctor;

chest pain during breathing, coughing with blood streaks;

the appearance of a rash on the body (with symptoms similar to SARS, many infectious diseases can begin. To distinguish them from SARS with skin manifestations will help only a doctor;

it also happens that after improvement in 3-4 days it becomes worse again. This may indicate the addition of a bacterial infection. In this case, it is also necessary to consult a doctor to choose the right treatment.

- How to reduce the risk of colds and other respiratory infections?

- To reduce the risk of SARS will help, no matter how boring it may sound, a healthy lifestyle: proper nutrition, physical activity. If possible, avoid contact with sick people. If necessary, work with cold people, it is necessary to observe a mask regime with a change of mask every 3 hours.

- Can I take a shower, go to a bath or sauna for a cold?

- You can shower. However, the water should not be hot. With the disease and so can increase body temperature, you can not allow hyperthermia, and this condition for the body is unnecessary stress. For the same reason, visiting a bath or sauna is better to postpone until full recovery.

- Can I walk with a cold?

- You can walk in dry, warm weather, provided that there is no elevated body temperature. Also, if you go for a walk, you should observe a social distance of 3-4 meters. The duration of the walk is 20-30 minutes.

- Can I drink coffee for a cold?

- You should refrain from drinking strong coffee or energy drinks. They increase dehydration.

- Can I drink alcohol for a cold?

Alcohol should also be avoided. First, it also causes dehydration. And secondly, the body needs all the strength to quickly overcome the infection, do not force it to also process the breakdown products of alcohol.