Colds are a common yet unpleasant part of life in Fairfield, CT, especially during the cold season. While we do our best to protect ourselves from the inevitable, catching a cold now and again is normal. Unfortunately, many things can make your cold symptoms worse. From the food you eat to the activities you partake in, here are six things you should avoid when you have a cold.
Sleep is essential for recovery. Naturally, when we don’t get enough sleep, our bodies don’t have time to properly heal — making us more vulnerable to infections and worsening existing ones. Therefore, you’re more likely to catch a cold due to your body’s decreased ability to fight viruses and bacteria. Studies have found that those who slept less than six hours each night were three times more likely to develop cold symptoms than those who got at least eight hours each night.
To make matters worse, those who did not get adequate sleep when infected with a virus got the symptoms quicker and had them for longer. So if you have a cold, it’s important to listen to your body and get plenty of rest. Try to go to bed simultaneously and aim for 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night. Urgent care Fairfield is here to help if your cold has become too severe; its highly trained professionals can assist you in finding relief quickly and effectively.
If you’re a smoker, you may find yourself more susceptible to colds and other viral illnesses. For this reason, urgent care Fairfield personnel urges you to consider your smoking habits. For one, smoking aggravates sinus and chest congestion, making breathing difficult and increasing coughing fits. If you’re already suffering from a cold, smoking will only make matters worse.
A scientific study published in the National Library of Medicine shows that cigarette smokers are more prone to contracting colds than non-smokers. Smoking also has a powerful effect on the body’s ability to recover from colds and flu by knocking back the immune system so that it cannot fight off or ward off illnesses as it should.
Individuals who smoke can suffer from significantly worsened symptoms caused by their cold, including coughing, congestion, and soreness in the throat, chest, and head. An infection resulting from a weakened immune system will last much longer for smokers due to the effects of smoking on the ability of the body to heal itself.
That is why most urgent care facilities in Fairfield, CT, encourage people to break their smoking habits to enjoy overall better health outcomes and reduce any respiratory issues related to their colds and flu.
Alcohol and caffeine are two substances that can be quite damaging when combined with a cold. For one, these drinks act as diuretics which means they cause you to urinate more often than usual — leaving your body dehydrated and exacerbating your symptoms like fatigue, headaches, congestion, etc.
While it may be tempting to have a sip of beer or tequila when feeling under the weather, try as much as possible to avoid alcoholic or caffeinated beverages while sick with a cold. Instead, urgent care professionals in Fairfield, CT, recommend drinking lots of fluids to help keep your body hydrated.
Furthermore, we suggest you avoid sugary drinks as they can lead to an imbalance in blood sugar levels, making it harder for your body to recover from a cold.
Hydration is key when fighting off any infection, especially one caused by a virus like the common cold. So, drink lots of water throughout the day (at least 8 to 10 glasses) to help flush out toxins and replenish the lost body fluids.
If plain water isn’t cutting it for you, try adding some natural flavorings like lemon juice or honey for taste. You may also want to try drinking warm beverages — like herbal tea, chicken soup, and hot water with lemon — which help soothe sore throats, reduce inflammation, and provide hydration. Staying hydrated also helps thin out mucus, making it easier for your body to naturally expel it from your system, reducing congestion and other uncomfortable symptoms associated with a common cold!
If your cold is worsening or not improving after a few days, DOCS Urgent Care & Primary Care Fairfield is here to help. Our highly trained professionals offer a broad range of services to help you recover quickly
It can be tempting to stay in bed watching TV or sleeping all day instead of going outside when you’re under the weather. After all, sleep is the foundation of good health and faster recovery. However, this means you should stay in bed once you get better.
In fact, staying indoors all day makes it harder for your body to recover from a cold because the air inside our homes is often drier than outside air. This can affect mucous membranes causing them to become dry or irritated — making you even more susceptible to infections like a common cold.
So, try taking some walks outdoors each day (weather permitting) so that you get some fresh air which helps keep our immune systems strong. We also recommend you keep your distance from others or wear a face mask when doing so to avoid spreading the virus. You can do this by going to open space places where you can be alone, like your garden, balcony, or nearby park.
Unhealthy eating habits can have a crucial role in the degree of severity of your cold and flu symptoms. While it’s tempting to lean on our comfort foods during this time, eating unhealthy foods like processed snacks or fast food won’t do much in terms of helping us fight off our infections.
Studies have shown that diets high in processed foods and carbohydrates can increase the risk of infections and weaken your immune system. Eating unhealthy food can also induce higher levels of inflammation, worsening existing cold or flu symptoms and making them last longer than necessary. Thus, we here at urgent care Fairfield urge you to get back on track with a nutritious diet.
You can do this by eating well-balanced meals full of fruits and vegetables to help boost your immune system. This way, you are sure that your food helps provide vital vitamins and minerals for proper healing.
Here are some examples of foods you can eat when you have severe colds:
Colds are one of the leading causes of illness every year, but what exactly causes them? Colds are typically caused by a virus, the most common culprits being rhinoviruses. When a person who is infected coughs or sneezes, tiny droplets from the mouth and nose, known as aerosolized particles, get spread around.
If others nearby breathe this air or come into contact with these droplets that have landed on surfaces such as furniture or door knobs and then touch their faces, there is a chance they, too, can become infected. In addition to viruses, colds also can be caused by certain bacteria. Although it’s rarer than viral infections, this cold is typically marked by more severe symptoms such as sinus pain and classic signs like a runny nose and sneezing.
A cold can be very unpleasant and uncomfortable, so it is natural to worry when you start feeling signs and symptoms. However, mild symptoms such as a runny nose and sneezing may not necessarily be something you should be overly concerned about. Most colds resolve themselves within a few days and do not require medical treatment.
However, if you notice your cold persists, worsens, and does not improve after a few days, or if more severe symptoms, such as high fever, develop suddenly and quickly, it’s time to seek medical advice immediately.
In some cases, a cold can progress into bronchitis, pneumonia, or even COVID-19; thus, it should be checked out by a medical professional or an urgent care Fairfield doctor promptly. Additionally, it’s advised that people with an impaired immune system visit their urgent care Fairfield physician as soon as possible for treatment if they present any of the symptoms associated with a cold.
If you feel like you need immediate treatment for your cold and its symptoms, don’t worry. DOCS Urgent Care & Primary Care Fairfield is here for you.
At DOCS Urgent Care & Primary Care Fairfield, we provide quality medical care for all your urgent care needs. We can evaluate and treat various illnesses, including severe colds. Our team of board-certified doctors has the experience and knowledge necessary to accurately diagnose and provide the right treatment for your case.
Therefore, if you are experiencing severe cold symptoms and need medical attention, DOCS Urgent Care & Primary Care Fairfield is ready to provide the care and support necessary to help get you back on your feet quickly. With our convenient location and extended hours of operation, DOCS urgent care is here for you when it matters most. Make your appointment with us today!
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