Everyone would love a miracle cure for the common cold. Many remedies are touted as helpful, including echinacea, zinc, vitamin C, and other supplements. But are they really doing the job? Research has found that echinacea does not prevent or help cold symptoms, as reported in a recent study in The New England Journal of Medicine. In fact, in study after study, it has been found that no supplement can prevent or cure a cold.
There are some studies that show there is a reduction in some cold symptoms with the use of zinc and vitamin C, however. But these benefits are limited and do not reduce the severity or duration of colds more than 20 percent. And taking too much of a supplement can cause problems of its own, including an actual suppression of the immune system and gastrointestinal distress.
So what should you do to help with your cold symptoms or even prevent a cold? Your best line of defense against the cold virus is to wash your hands often with soap and water, and to get an annual flu shot. Avoid over-exercising during the winter months or lack of sleep, both of which can lower your immune system response. If you do come down with a cold, get plenty of rest and drink lots of fluids, especially warm liquids like tea and chicken soup. Antihistamines may alleviate some symptoms, but they are not effective in reducing the duration of your cold. With or without treatment, your cold will probably run five to seven days and should clear up on its own.
At Oxford at The Boulevard Apartments in Corinth, Texas, we believe it’s important to live life vigorously. In order to do so, you must educate yourself regularly with lifestyle-enhancing tips such as these. With this blog post, we seek to improve your way of life through education that promotes self-care.