Health Insurance:
Conquer the Common Cold with These Surefire Tips
It's important to have great health insurance but
even the best plans available can do very little against the common cold.
Esurance has put together a list of surefire tips for surviving the next cold
season.
What is the common cold? This question dates back
to the beginnings of civilization itself. The ancient Egyptians had hieroglyphics
for the common cold, the 5th century Greek physician Hippocrates noted that the
cold occurs more in the winter, and the Aztecs treated this ailment by mixing
together chili pepper, honey, and tobacco.
But there's still no cure for the common cold. As
the name suggests, it continues to afflict many of us each year.
As we all know by now, the common cold is a highly
contagious respiratory illness typically involving a runny or stuffy nose,
coughing, and a sore throat. Because a cold rarely becomes a serious health
problem, we tend to regard it as an incurable nuisance.
So, how do you shake a cold? You've probably heard countless
"tried and true" methods, including some conflicting techniques and others that
are flat-out bizarre. To help keep you sniffle-free, we've compiled a list of proven
ways to avoid, and beat, the common cold.
Prevention
As you probably know, healthy habits
strengthen your immune system. Do your best to get enough sleep and exercise,
and try to stay hydrated and eat nutritious foods. Managing your stress well can
also help your body stay healthy.
If
someone around you has a cold, keep your distance. Colds can be spread through
the air by coughing and sneezing, or by coming in contact with an infected
person, either directly or via a contaminated surface.
People are contagious the day before
they experience symptoms and about 5 days after. To keep even the unsuspected
person's germs away, wash your hands regularly with soap and warm water and
refrain from touching your face.
Another
alternative is alcohol-based hand sanitizers, which are as effective as hand
washing according to The Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention. However, anti-bacterial
soaps have no added benefit since colds are viral.
Finally,
go outside more! Though many of us think colder temperatures are the
culprit, it's actually staying inside with central heating that dries you out and makes
your body more vulnerable to cold and flu viruses. Just remember to dress
warmly when embracing the great outdoors!
Treatment
So you've come down with a cold. Don't be too hard on yourself. It's
estimated that adults have, on average, 2-4 colds a year and children as many
as 6-10.
Though there's no cure, get relief by taking good
care of yourself and treating the symptoms as best you can:
- Take
care of yourself. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
recommends getting plenty of rest, drinking fluids, gargling with warm salt water, and using
cough drops, throat sprays, or over-the-counter pain or cold medicines.
- Weigh the side effects. If you're thinking about taking an over-the
counter medicine to alleviate your symptoms, check the side effects first
before deciding they're worth it.
- Avoid certain
drinks. Refrain from beverages containing caffeine or alcohol since
they cause dehydration and can make you feel worse when fighting a cold.
- Consider
alternatives. Zinc gluconate and megadoses of Vitamin C, along with warm chicken soup, saunas, and steam rooms, reputedly
do wonders, though studies are inconclusive and relief may only be temporary.
- Don't
spread the germs. Cover your mouth or nose with a tissue (or even
your sleeve) when you cough or sneeze so you don't spread germs through the air
or from hand contact.
Colds usually take anywhere from several days to
two weeks to leave your system. However, if your cold lingers or gets worse,
consult a physician. You may have the flu or a bacterial infection.
At Esurance, we know how important it is have health insurance
coverage that you can depend on. That's why we've partnered with
eHealthInsurance, a leading online source for individual and family health
insurance. Get
your free quotes online today. You can compare plans
side-by-side and get the best prices available.
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