{"id":13989,"date":"2022-12-12T17:23:46","date_gmt":"2022-12-12T17:23:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/docsmedicalgroup.com\/docsurgentcare\/?p=13989"},"modified":"2022-12-12T19:11:25","modified_gmt":"2022-12-12T19:11:25","slug":"6-things-you-should-avoid-when-you-have-a-cold-in-fairfield-ct","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/docsmedicalgroup.com\/docsurgentcare\/6-things-you-should-avoid-when-you-have-a-cold-in-fairfield-ct\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Things You Should Avoid When You Have a Cold in Fairfield, CT"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Manage\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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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.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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1. Not Getting Enough Sleep <\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Sleep is essential for recovery. Naturally, when we don’t get enough sleep, our bodies don’t have time to properly heal \u2014 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 <\/span>more likely to develop cold symptoms<\/span><\/a><\/span> than those who got at least eight hours each night.<\/span><\/p>

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 <\/span>aim for 7 to 8 hours of sleep<\/span><\/a><\/span> 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.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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2. Smoking<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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If you\u2019re 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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

A scientific study published in the National Library of Medicine shows that cigarette smokers are <\/span>more prone to contracting colds than non-smokers<\/span><\/a><\/span>.<\/span> 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.<\/span><\/p>

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.<\/span><\/p>

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.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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3. Drinking Alcohol or Too Much Caffeine<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Alcohol and caffeine are two substances that can be quite damaging when combined with a cold. For one, these drinks <\/span>act as diuretics<\/span><\/a><\/span> which means they cause you to urinate more often than usual \u2014 leaving your body dehydrated and exacerbating your symptoms like fatigue, headaches, congestion, etc.<\/span><\/p>

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.<\/span><\/p>

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.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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4. Ignoring Your Fluid Intake<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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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.<\/span><\/p>

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 \u2014 like herbal tea, chicken soup, and hot water with lemon \u2014 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!\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

If your cold is worsening or not improving after a few days, <\/span>DOCS Urgent Care & Primary Care Fairfield<\/span><\/a><\/span> is here to help. Our highly trained professionals offer a broad range of services to help you recover quickly <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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5. Staying Indoors All Day<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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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.<\/span><\/p>

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 \u2014 making you even more susceptible to infections like a common cold.<\/span><\/p>

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.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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6. Eating Unhealthy Foods<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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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.<\/span><\/p>

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\u00a0<\/span>urgent care Fairfield<\/a><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>urge you to get back on track with a nutritious diet.<\/span><\/p>

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.<\/span><\/p>

Here are some examples of foods you can eat when you have severe colds:<\/span><\/p>