Cold, laryngitis and cough
You can easily catch a nose cold in the winter. Laryngitis and coughing are also typical winter ailments. How do you get it and what can you do about it?
Head colds are one of the most common winter ailments. It is caused by rhinoviruses, a large group of common cold viruses. The virus enters the nose when the resistance is low and settles in the mucous membrane. This gets irritated and swells up.
bacteria
After a few days, the mucus will come off. The cold is then at its peak. If a cold is not treated, the nasal mucosa can swell so much that the connection between the nasal and sinus cavities becomes blocked. The bacteria in the sinuses then get the chance to multiply. Soon you will get the feeling that your whole head is clogged.
This is one of the symptoms of a sinus infection. Pressure on the eyes and on the nasal bone also indicate this. Or a stabbing headache when bending over and a mucous discharge that runs down the pharynx while you are in bed. If the inflammation persists for a longer period of time, it is wise to see a doctor.
what can you do about it?
Here’s what you can do to prevent complications from a cold:
- Try to breathe through your nose as much as possible.
- Blow your nose as little as possible.
- Never squeeze both nostrils at the same time while blowing or sneezing.
- Picking up your nose is better than blowing your nose. It also reduces the risk of the cold spreading to the sinuses.
- Before going to bed, place a sliced onion next to your bed.
- Drink enough. Elderflower or linden blossom tea has a warming and anti-inflammatory effect.
- Do not take sweet milk products. They hold the mucus in the pharynx. Sour dairy products like buttermilk and biogarde are better.
strep throat
Bacteria can also settle in the mucous membrane of the throat and pharynx. Strong multiplication of germs can cause painful inflammation of your pharynx, tonsils and larynx. The most common symptoms are difficulty swallowing, a dry and rough throat and hoarseness.
Angina is a serious form of strep throat. These are swellings of the tonsils and their immediate surroundings. Strong pain, high fever, vomiting and difficulty breathing are the typical symptoms. Angina should be treated by a doctor. With laryngitis, the vocal cords can also become inflamed and more or less paralyzed. Hoarseness to loss of voice and a raw or dull voice are the result. Hoarseness is often persistent. It usually takes several days. Long-lasting hoarseness should be examined by a doctor.
Cough
Coughing is a reflex of the body to defend itself against invading, pungent particles in the larynx and trachea. By coughing, the body keeps or clears the access to the lungs. With a cold, the mucous membrane in the airways becomes irritated. Usually an excessive amount of mucus is produced. In the case of a cold, coughing is either the result of the “stimulus” that the irritated airways provide (the so-called tickling or tickling cough) or a reflex to drain the excess mucus (stuck cough). To reduce the cough you can use a cough syrup, cough capsules or tablets.
