Half of the month of November has passed. Now the temperature will drop every day. Generally, mild cold starts in the month of November in North India.
The changing weather also brings with it many diseases. Cold weather increases cases of common cold. It is a highly contagious disease that spreads when a person coughs or sneezes.
If one member of the household catches a common cold, it can gradually affect other people as well. It is necessary to take some special precautions to avoid it.
So let's go In today's important news Know why cases of common cold increase in winter? We will also talk about –
- What are the symptoms of the common cold?
- Which people are at greater risk?
- How to avoid the common cold?
Expert: Dr. Akbar Naqvi, Physician, New Delhi
Q- What is the common cold?
Answer- The common cold is a viral infection that affects the upper part of our respiratory system. It is a health problem caused by a virus, which can affect anyone from young children to the elderly. This should not be taken lightly. Its persistence for a long time can invite serious diseases.
Q- What are the symptoms of common cold?
Answer- Dr. Akbar Naqvi explains that symptoms of the common cold usually start with chills, cough and fever, which appear 2-3 days after exposure to the virus. Its symptoms mostly affect the nose and throat.
Understand the symptoms of common cold from the graphic below.
Q- What is the difference between common cold or flu?
Answer- Common cold and flu are two different diseases. The flu is caused by the influenza virus, while the common cold is caused by the rhino virus.
The common cold usually causes mild problems, which resolve within a week. This is not the case with the flu. Its symptoms are quite severe. It can cause fever, muscle aches and cough and chills. The flu can also cause pneumonia, which can lead to a dangerous health condition.
Q- Why do cases of common cold increase in winter?
Answer- Dr. Akbar Naqvi states that due to the low temperature, the air becomes dry, due to which the body's immune system starts to weaken. Apart from this, cold weather is favorable for viruses. In this they become more powerful.
Understand from the following graphic why cases of common cold increase in winter.
Q- Which people should be more careful in winter season?
Answer- Bacteria and viruses become more active in cold weather. Therefore, people with weakened immune systems need to be extra careful.
See graphic below-
Question- When to consult a doctor in case of mild cold?
Answer: In most cases of common cold, there is no need to consult a doctor. It gets completely cured in 2-3 days. However, if the symptoms worsen or become more severe, one should not become complacent. Don't be careless in these common cold conditions.
- Difficulty breathing
- Wheezing in chest
- Difficulty speaking
- Ear pain
- Loss of appetite
- Cold and cough more than three days
Question- What kind of precautions should be taken to avoid common cold?
Answer- It is very important to protect yourself from cold weather diseases. For this you should pay special attention to your lifestyle and diet. A little carelessness can invite diseases. Let's understand with the help of these tips what should be taken care of to avoid common cold.
- Protect the nose, ears and mouth from cold winds as cold enters the body more through these parts.
- Start wearing warm clothes with changing weather. Don't overlook the slight chill in the mornings and evenings.
- When coughing and sneezing, viruses and bacteria are spread into the air, which can infect other people. So, always cover your mouth and nose while coughing and sneezing.
- The possibility of spreading infection increases in public transport. So, always wear a mask while traveling by train. This will help you protect yourself and others from infection.
- It is very important to self-isolate if symptoms of the common cold appear. This will help you protect others from infection.
- To boost immunity, include green vegetables and dry fruits in your diet.
- A healthy person should drink 8 to 10 glasses of water throughout the day, even on cold days.
- Work out for 15-20 minutes every day. Exercise strengthens the immune system, which helps fight viruses.
Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).
