The winter season brings with it many seasonal diseases. The most common of these is a cold or cough. This viral infection spreads rapidly.
Usually, colds and coughs go away in 1-2 weeks, but sometimes they can bother you for a long time. Our immune system needs to be strong to avoid it. The stronger the immune system, the lower the risk of colds and viral infections.
People adopt various methods to strengthen the immune system, but if you see, there are some things in our kitchen that can boost immunity as well as protect against viral infections.
So come, today In work news Shall we talk about some home remedies to prevent viral infections? You will also know that-
- Why does a cold increase the risk of viral infection?
- How can we avoid it?
Expert: Dr. Navneet Arya, MD, Panchakarma, Sri Sai Institute of Ayurvedic Research and Medicine, Bhopal
Q- Why does the risk of viral infection increase in winter?
Answer- The air is humid in winter. This leads to rapid growth of bacteria and viruses. Lack of sunlight weakens the immune system. This increases the risk of viral infection.
Q- What to do if you have a cold or cough? Answer: A cold or cough is common during the changing season. People with weakened immune systems are particularly at risk. If you have fallen victim to a viral infection, you can try some home remedies. It can prevent viral infection. Some home remedies can be seen in the graphic below.
Let us understand the points given in the above graphic in detail.
Taking steam (naas) with warm water is beneficial Taking steam with warm water is very beneficial if there is a problem of nasal congestion. The vapor enters our body through the nose and generates heat. The mucus accumulated in the nose is loosened by the heat of the steam, thereby relieving the problem of nasal congestion. For this take warm water in a bowl. Then cover the head with a cotton towel. After this, remove the lid of the vessel and inhale it for 5 to 10 minutes.
If you have a sore throat, gargle with salt water A sore throat is usually caused by a virus. Rinsing with salt water is soothing. You can also add basil leaves in salt water if cold and cough are severe. Tulsi has antibacterial properties, which provide great relief in colds and coughs. For this, you can gargle by dissolving a quarter teaspoon of salt in at least a cup of warm water.
Eat foods rich in vitamin C Vitamin C acts as an antioxidant, which protects the body's cells from damage. Vitamin C deficiency weakens the immune system. For this, include vitamin C rich foods like oranges, lemons, amla in your diet in winter. It will not only strengthen the immune system, but also reduce the risk of viral infections.
Ginger-basil tea is very beneficial Ginger and basil have anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, which help fight bacteria. Drinking its tea can prevent viral infections. Apart from this, you can make a decoction of basil and ginger and drink it. It removes accumulated phlegm from the body. It also relieves cold, cough and sore throat.
Question- How beneficial is taking a bath in winter? Answer- Dr. Navneet Arya says that taking steam is a good home remedy to prevent diseases caused by cold. This not only provides relief from cough and cold but also gives the skin a natural glow.
You can see some other advantages in the graphic below.
Q- How does a humidifier help protect against viral infections? Answer: Installing a humidifier at home in winter reduces the risk of colds and coughs as it increases the humidity in the air. It keeps the respiratory system healthy. In addition, it protects against the risk of viruses, which reduces the risk of viral infection. However, it is necessary to clean the humidifier regularly. So that bacteria and viruses do not remain in it.
Question- What things should be taken care of to avoid viral infection in winter? Answer: As the weather changes, viral and bacterial infections spread faster. In such a situation it is very important to avoid it. A little carelessness can make you sick. If you want to avoid viral infections during the changing weather, there are a few things to keep in mind. Understand this from the graphic below-
Question- Can viral infection be avoided by cleanliness? Answer- Yes, absolutely! Viral infection can be avoided by adopting hygiene. For this, keep the bed sheets and your warm clothes clean along with the quilts in winter. Do not wear dirty clothes.
Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).