Billions of people around the world catch an infectious disease almost every day. Obviously, this can be anything, from the most common flu, which is quite a nuisance, to something more complicated like AIDS or HIV. Since this epidemic began to spread in the 1980s, it has taken around 14 million lives. World Health Organisation’s stats showed that AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria are responsible for approximately 5 million deaths each year (half of the disease deaths in a year).
With that in mind, today, we will look at the most frequent diseases and their natural cure. We are all familiar with the cold and influenza (flu). These nasty illnesses are most common, especially among college students.
They can be avoided by taking a healthy diet or by supplementing your diet with vitamin supplements. Maintaining a healthy diet and active lifestyle can help you fight off diseases and boost your immune system. Nutrients like vitamin C in fruits and vegetables can give you an upper hand against viruses. In addition, to ensure your body nutrients are sufficiently met you can also incorporate supplements into your diet; Nature’s Bounty, Para Response, and also Gummies Garden are among reliable sources.
What are the most contagious diseases?
Cold and Flu
The first thing to talk about when discussing a disease is its cause. Well, influenza and cold both are infections of the upper respiratory system. These two are caused by viruses which cause inflammation in the membranes of your nose and throat. This virus is usually transmitted mainly by physical contact.
The symptoms of flu are not experienced beforehand. They come on suddenly like a bombshell. Symptoms of flu and cold are almost the same, but they are severe in the flu as compared to a cold. These include:
- Intense pain
- Headache
- Dry cough
- Fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit)
- Fatigue
Having flu makes you more prone to diseases like ear infections, bronchitis, sinus, etc.
On the other hand, cold symptoms usually affect you above your neck. These are:
- Nasal congestion (stuffy or sultry nose)
- Sneezing
- Sore throat
- Cough
Sometimes, you may experience mild headaches, low-grade fever, or body aches.
Usually, a cold lasts for two to fourteen days.
Treatment
If you feel that any problem is troubling you or your condition is a lot more serious than the normal flu or cold, seek immediate medical help. Following are the conditions in which medical attention is necessary:
- Fever of 102 degrees Fahrenheit or greater (this means a more complicated infection)
- A persistent cough (if this is accompanied by significant fever, then it indicates pneumonia).
- Sore throat ( a runny nose that doesn’t get better may be a symptom of a strep infection)
- Cold symptoms that don’t start decreasing after ten days.
Since viruses cause cold and flu, thus these cannot be cured with the help of antibiotics.
However, there are tips that you can follow. These will assist you in strengthening your immune system and make you better. Here are the helpful tips:
- Rest a lot and refrain from performing exercises unless you don’t get well.
- Drink plenty of clear fluids, including water and green tea.
- Don’t go near cigarette smoke.
- Avoid taking antibiotics unless your doctor prescribes them.
- Stay away from alcohol as it impacts your immune system negatively and interferes with the medications.
- Avoid using caffeine because its use results in dehydration and congestion.
- Eat a balanced diet rich in carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.
Some Remedies to Cure Cold and Flu
Here are some other remedies. These will provide you comfort and relief. If you have congestion, then go for decongestants like pseudoephedrine. It relieves runny nose as well as congestion. However, these medications may suppress appetite and inhibit sleep.
Saltwater nasal sprays are available over the counter, for example, NaSal or Ocean. They help relieve congested nasal tracks by thinning the mucus. However, you need to understand that using these medications over an extended period may make you dependent on them. Thus avoid overusing them. You could also use humidifiers. Plus, a hot shower always helps in moistening nasal passages and also clears mucus.
For persistent cough, dextromethorphan is an effective cough suppressant. But cough is simply a positive reflex, so it is usually not something to worry about. However, it can at times be a nuisance and interfere with sleep or work. If you use humidifiers, then water vapors from them along with showers may assist in loosening the mucus, which causes a cough. Chicken soup is extremely helpful.
When treating a sore throat, use lozenges and sprays. Phenol, a component in lozenges and sprays, is a great provider of relief from pain caused by sore throats. To reduce swollen tonsils, gargling with warm water is extremely effective. Simply add 1 tsp of salt to one glass of water. It would provide you comfort and ease the pain. Drinking warm tea along with lemon would provide comfort. You can add honey if you want.
For treating fever, Acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and aspirin are the best options. For severe symptoms, simply alternate acetaminophen and ibuprofen for pain or fever relief.
Prevention
Flu shots are administered every year. These shots do not eliminate the disease, but the vaccine helps to reduce the severity of symptoms.
Influenza viruses, once inactivated, are utilized in making vaccines every year. However, it takes time for our immune system to react to these vaccines. Thus they must be injected 6 to 8 weeks before the beginning of the months in which flu starts spreading. Hence, it would prevent infection or lower its severity. The incubation period of the flu virus is usually 24 to 72 hours. Hence, most probably, you won’t show the symptoms for the three days after being infected. But the disease is at its most contagious stage in the same three days.
