Common Cold (Coryza)!

Common cold or coryza-
This is the most common and most frequent viral infection affecting all age groups and is highly contagious.

Causes:
• Viral infection.
• Person to person
• Inhalation of droplets from infected people through cough and sneeze.
• Cold weather and changing weather favors.
• Low resistance due to fatigue, exhaustion, loss of sleep, stress, depression.
• Unhygienic family practices.

Sign and symptoms:
• Sense of uneasiness.
• Burning sensation in nose with sneezing, nose block and clear nasal discharge.
• Headache.
• Burning and watering of eyes may be present.
• With or without fever.
• In a later stage will develop hoarseness, sore throat, dry cough and yellow cloudy discharge.
• Loss of appetite.
• Lack of energy.
• Muscle pain and fever may accompany.

Dietary management:
• In the case of profuse water nasal discharge fluid intake should be increased.
• Drink plenty of water, can add a pinch of turmeric and ginger powder to it.
• You can consume juices especially of citrus fruits as they have high vitamin c content – lemon, orange, sweet lime, pineapple etc.
• Consume hot soups, especially chicken soup.
• Take raw fruits and vegetables. Apple is good for cold, should consume at least one apple a day.
• Include garlic, ginger and onions in your food.
• Increase intake of vitamin a in your diet – all yellow fruits and vegetables contain vitamin a. Meat, fish, kidney and liver, liver oils of fish like cod, shark, and halibut are richest source of vitamin a. If you are a vegetarian you can have fish liver oil supplements but because overdose can be toxic.
• Boil a mixture of bishops weed (ajwain), tea leaves and water and inhale the steam, helps to decongest the nose block due to cold. Should do at least three times a day.
• Drink a boiled mixture of – ½ cup water, little ginger, 2-3 leaves of sweet basil (tulsi) and mint leaves, or you can eat the raw leaves, this will boost up you immunity and control your cough and cold.
• Gargle with warm water, a pinch of salt and turmeric to sooth your throat.
• Avoid milk and milk products – cottage cheese.
• Avoid spicy food, eggs, sweets and cold refrigerated drinks.
• Avoid cold drinks, cold water, ice creams and aerated drinks.
• Avoid all food with preservatives and additives.

Note:
• Avoid contact with infected people.
• Go out for a walk in fresh air.
• Do not self medicate.