You’re familiar with the yearly tradition: as the days begin to get shorter, so does your patience for having to deal with runny noses, sore throats, and tickly coughs.
Each year, autumn and winter are when most of us will catch between one and three colds.
We know how to avoid them, but stopping a cold is a different story, right?
Not so, says The Daily Mail. It has enlisted the help of Professors John Oxford, Ron Eccles, and Peter Openshaw, who are all common cold specialists.
With more than 200 different cold viruses out there, here’s a handy guide based on their expertise, that will help in the goal of stopping a cold.
Encountering a single sneeze in passing can trigger a cold, especially if you are over-tired, stressed, or your immune system has been compromised.
The cold virus can get a foothold, even as your defences are working overtime to deter this foreign invader.
Give them a boost by washing your hands thoroughly using soapy water, especially after using public transport. Avoid rubbing your eyes and nose, as well as hand-to-hand contact with infected people, or surfaces, if possible.
Two hours in
By now, the first symptoms may be developing. If you begin to experience nasal dryness or irritation, the epithelial layer has already started to break down.
Where they settle depends on what type of virus has infected you. ‘Some prefer the warmer environment of the upper lungs, while others focus on the nose and throat, partly because they prefer the cooler 32C.
‘That’s why some colds tend to cause more nasal symptoms,’ said Professor Openshaw.
After 10 hours
‘The speed of replication is astonishing,’ said Professor Oxford. ‘One infected cell becomes a factory for the viruses and can make millions of viruses within 10 hours.’
As the virus infects more cells, your body produces chemicals that irritate and inflame the lining of the nose, triggering a sneeze to get rid of the virus, while white blood cells work overtime to destroy these invaders.
When it comes to stopping a cold, resting is key. Apply a warm compress or take a painkilling drug.
After 12 hours
The cold viruses are now established, making your muscles ache. An over-production of mucus also leads to a runny nose.
Coughing damages the fragile epithelial lining of the respiratory tract, resulting in a sore throat, but it’s your body’s way of ‘keeping unwanted stuff from getting into your lungs’.
Don’t blow your nose too hard, as doing so can lead to infection. Gargling warm, salty water can ease a sore throat, as well as hot drinks such as honey, lemon, and ginger.
After 18 hours
As mucus builds, it can cause dehydration, which also blocks the airway, causing coughing and sneezing to intensify.
Cough medicines can break up the excess mucus, while decongestants and ibuprofen can relieve sinus pressure and help bring down your temperature.
Eating hot soups and broths, such as chicken soup, can also help.
24 hours and more
For most people, cold symptoms peak within three days, and after that, you’ll begin to feel better again.
‘Most immune systems start to turn the tide on the virus and wipe it out, but not without millions of white cells being killed by the virus in the process.
‘This is possibly why mucus tends to get thicker and take on a greenish tinge,’ said Professor Openshaw.