Cold Myths

In winter, people often get colds and seem to already know absolutely everything about it. But, “stuck out” once again, they make all the same mistakes, because they take the myths of the common cold for reality.

1. BETWEEN INFLUENZA AND CROWN, NO DIFFERENCE
Their symptoms are really very similar - chills, runny nose, cough, weakness, fever ... But the flu always starts sharply, develops more rapidly, and severe complications (sinusitis, pneumonia, pleurisy, and sometimes even inflammation of the heart muscle, kidneys, etc.) occur more often than with other colds. In addition, the body needs more time to recover from the flu. Therefore, if you feel the characteristic signs of influenza infection: chills, aching bones, pain in muscles, eyeballs, eyebrows, forehead and temples, severe weakness at high (more than 38 ° C) temperature - take a sick leave and rest for 7-10 days , so you can avoid additional troubles and fully recover.
2. IF COLD, IT IS NECESSARY TO DRINK ANTIBIOTICS
Only if prescribed by a doctor to prevent bacterial complications that often attach to a viral infection in weakened people. On your own initiative and without additional examinations, antibiotics should not be taken: they do not act on viruses,but they destroy your own microflora on the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract and the gastrointestinal tract, which creates additional protection against infections. As a result, antibiotic therapy can lead to dysbiosis and a decrease in local immunity.
3. TEMPERATURE NEEDED
Not always! If it does not go beyond 38.5−39 ° C and you are not very difficult to tolerate it, you do not need to take antipyretic drugs. Fever is a natural defensive reaction of the body: do not deprive it of an effective weapon against viruses! A temperature above 39 ° C is considered threatening, 40–41 ° C dangerous. Temperature 42 ° C - Critical
for life. What kind of fever you have is pink or white. In the first case, the skin turns red, the patient is still full of heat - the body, as expected, actively gets rid of excess heat. With "white" fever, heat transfer is difficult due to vasospasm. Therefore, the skin is pale, hands and feet are cold, and health is much worse. You need to deal with such a fever as soon as the thermometer reaches 38 ° C. Those who are at risk (a tendency to cramps, heart disease, severe intoxication with nausea and vomiting with the flu) need to lower the temperature from 38 ° C for "pink" and from 37 ° C for "white" fever.
4. THAN MORE ASKORBINKI, BETTER THAN!
So the American scientist Linus Pauling believed, trying to convince the whole world that shock doses of vitamin C (ascorbic acid), reaching up to 10 g per day, can protect us from the flu, colds and many other troubles.But it turned out that more does not mean better. The body simply does not absorb vitamin C in such quantities. No matter how much you take ascorbic acid, only 0.2-0.5 g will be absorbed, and the rest will be brought out.
5. IF YOU HAVE 36.6 ° C, IT'S SIMPLE TO CARRY ON LEGS
Even if the temperature does not rise, it is impossible to ignore the disease: it can be more dangerous than the classic version with fever and chills! In the case of a weakened body, the healing process is delayed, various complications arise. When calling a local therapist from a clinic, they usually ask what your temperature is. If it is normal, and other signs of a cold (severe runny nose, sore throat) are present, insist on a doctor's visit and demand a sick leave. Deny you do not have the right!
6. IF THE VOICE SITS, IT IS NECESSARY TO SPEAK IN A WHISPER AND RINSE THE THROAT OFTEN
Whispers for ligaments are even more dangerous than ordinary speech. Making a quiet sound, the inflamed ligaments tighten with such force as if you were screaming - in the end you can lose your voice altogether. It is not worth it to get involved in rinsing. Anyway, not a drop will fall into the larynx: at the time of the procedure, the epiglottis tightly covers it. In addition, sounds produced by
Rinses, like whispers, irritate the inflamed and edematous mucous membrane of the larynx and require effort from the vocal cords, for which rest is the best medicine.
7. TEA WITH HONEY AND LEMON - THE BEST CURE FOR Colds
Who does not know this time-tested recipe! Just keep in mind: in hot water (over 40 ° C), vitamin C from lemon and the active substances contained in honey are destroyed. In addition, the therapeutic effect of honey diluted in a large amount of liquid slows down.It is better to eat a couple of tablespoons of honey (without additives or mixed with lemon in a blender), feel it on the tongue, in the throat, and only then drink warm tea.
HOW TO RECOGNIZE THE VIRUS
RESPIRATORY-SYNCITIAL INFECTION: in addition to the typical symptoms of a cold, heavy, wheezing appears, asthma attacks are possible, as in bronchial asthma.
Adenovirus infection: a feeling of pain, "sand" in the eyes, abdominal pain, swollen lymph nodes join the chills, cough, and runny nose.
RINOVIRAL INFECTION: severe runny nose, sore throat, sneezing, but fever
within normal limits and overall well-being does not cause concern.
PARAGRIPHLE: hoarseness, barking cough. In children, the development of false croup is possible. Rhinovirus infection and parainfluenza are usually relatively easy, and they can be managed on their own if there are no alarming symptoms. But with flu, respiratory syncytial or adenovirus infection, you should see a doctor.
Text: Ivan Belokrylov. Photo: PR
Material prepared by Julia Dekanova

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