Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Health tips for winter season


Winter season is a special time for celebration. It should also be a time for added caution if you or someone in your family is an older adult. It is the season for falls, fog, moist and other dangers that can be especially harmful for older adults health. flu and the common cold are both respiratory illnesses, they are caused by different viruses. Because they have similar symptoms, it can be difficult to tell them apart, but generally  cold symptoms are much milder than flu.

Winter season is a special time for celebration. It should also be a time for added caution if you or someone in your family is an older adult. It is the season for falls, fog, moist and other dangers that can be especially harmful for older adults health. flu and the common cold are both respiratory illnesses, they are caused by different viruses. Because they have similar symptoms, it can be difficult to tell them apart, but generally  cold symptoms are much milder than flu.


What is flu
Flu, medically called influenza, is a very contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. 
Flu appears most frequently in winter and early spring. The flu virus attacks the body by spreading through the upper and/or lower respiratory tract.

Natural cold & flu remedies
Looking for home remedies to help treat your cold symptoms? These remedies have been used to treat cold symptoms for generations. Believe it, those annoying symptoms you're experiencing are part of the natural healing process - evidence that the immune system is battling illness. For instance, a fever is your body's way of trying to kill viruses in a hotter-than-normal environment. Also, a fever’s hot environment makes germ-killing proteins in your blood circulate more quickly and effectively. Thus, if you endure a moderate fever for a day or two, you may actually get well faster. Coughing is another productive symptom; it clears your breathing passages of thick mucus that can carry germs to your lungs and the rest of your body. Even a stuffy nose is best treated mildly or not at all. A decongestant restricts blood flow in the blood vessels in your nose and throat. But often you want the increased blood flow because it warms the infected area and helps secretions carry germs out of your body.

Cold remedies
Need some dependable home remedies for cold relief? We’ve collected some favorites. Learn about the best self-care cold remedies, so you can get relief now.


Cold remedies fruits

Vitamin C 
The effect of vitamin C on the common cold remains uncertain. One major review of evidence in 2007 found no evidence to support routine high-dose vitamin C supplements for most people. Taking more than 2,000 mg of vitamin C per day may cause kidney stones and diarrhea. Always read the product information before taking vitamin C.

Chicken soup
Granny may have been right all along. Chicken soup may help cold symptoms. Inhaling the steam can ease nasal congestion and sipping spoonfuls of fluid can help avoid dehydration. Laboratory research has found chicken soup has some anti-inflammatory properties, though it's unclear whether this effect translates to colds in the real world.


Hot tea
Drinking hot tea may offer some benefits when living with a cold. Inhaling the steam may help relieve congestion, while swallowing the fluid can soothe the throat and keeps you hydrated. Tea also contains antioxidants.

Hot toddy
The hot toddy is a traditional night time cold remedy. Make a cup of hot herbal tea, add a teaspoon of honey, a small measure of whisk, and a squeeze of lemon. This mixture may ease congestion, soothe the throat and help you sleep. Limit yourself to one hot toddy as too much alcohol can affect the immune system.


Garlic
Garlic has long been promoted for legendary germ-fighting abilities. While there is not enough research to recommend it as a cold remedy, garlic is very nutritious. In addition, it can help spice up your meals when a stuffy nose makes everything taste bland.


Saline drops
Dripping saltwater into the nose can remove virus and bacteria particles, and reduce congestion. Saline drops can be bought without a prescription, or you can make your own. Mix around 225 ml of warm water with 1/4 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda. Use a bulb syringe to squirt the mixture into one nostril while holding the other one closed. Repeat two to three times, and then do the other side.


Menthol ointment
Days of wiping and blowing your nose during a cold or flu can leave the skin around your nostrils sore and irritated. Dabbing a menthol-infused ointment under the nose brings the benefit of menthol’s mild numbing agents to relieve the pain, plus the menthol aroma can help open clogged passages. Always read the label before using this product and for babies and children, make sure it is suitable for their age.


Saltwater gargle
For a sore throat, many people recommend the traditional saltwater gargle. Gargling warm water with a teaspoon of salt four times daily may help keep a scratchy throat moist.


Eat infection-fighting foods
Here are some good foods to eat when you're battling a cold or flu:

Bananas: Soothe upset stomachs.
Peppers: Loaded with vitamin C.
Blueberries: Curbs diarrhea high in natural aspirin. (May lower fevers and help with the aches and pains.)
Carrots: Loaded with beta-carotene.
Chili peppers: Can open sinuses, and help break up mucus.
Mustard and horseradish: Helps break up mucus in air passages.
Onion: Has photo chemical claimed to help the body clear bronchitis and other infections.
Rice: Curbs diarrhea.
Tea: Black and green tea (not herbals) contain catching, a photochemical claimed to have natural antibiotic and anti-diarrhea effects.

Take a steamy shower
Steamy showers moisturize your nasal passages and relax you. If you're full up with the flu, run a steamy shower while you sit on a chair nearby and take a sponge bath.


Winter Tips to Reduce Sore Throat


Sore throats are most commonly seen in winter season. If you are facing this problem, try this natural remedies rather than artificial things. These homemade natural remedies are safe & cheapest but give excellent results. Sore throat should last within 7 to 10 days. If not, consult a doctor to diagnose the cause & start taking the treatment to get rid of the problem.

Winter Tips to Reduce Sore Throat Sore throats are most commonly seen in winter season. If you are facing this problem, try this natural remedies rather than artificial things. These homemade natural remedies are safe & cheapest but give excellent results. Sore throat should last within 7 to 10 days. If not, consult a doctor to diagnose the cause & start taking the treatment to get rid of the problem.


Follow these tips to get heal from the Sore throat.
Take non steroidal anti inflammatory drug (N SAID) such as Advil or Al-eve. Which is a part included in the medicines for sore throat.
Salt water gargle will helps to prevent the sore throat & it will reduce swelling in the throat & it removes the bacteria easily. For this take a cup of water & add half tea spoon of salt, mix it well & take that water in your mouth do gargling & split it out the water but don’t swallow it.

You can also gargle with Raspberry leaf tea, sage, turmeric, Listerine.
Take fluids & liquids like water, fruits juice, soaps etc. which helps to keep the mucous membranes moist & fights with bacteria that cause the throat pain. At this stage, you have to keep yourself hydrated.

Drink a warm cup of tea whether herbal, non herbal which contains antioxidants helps to strength the immunity & kills the bacteria causing sore throat. To boost it further, you can add a tea spoon of honey which contains anti bacterial properties helps to get faster relief.
Take chicken soup or sip the broth which contains anti inflammatory properties & soothe your throat.
Take some rest & allow your body to regain the energy which helps to fight with the virus causing sore throat.

Try to avoid antibiotics for sore throat & use full course medicine which helps to get rid off the problem but not for short time relief.
Include food containing vitamins, minerals, anti oxidants like oysters, sweet potatoes, fresh fruits, vegetables, green leafy vegetables, citrus fruits (as it have antimicrobial effects & vitamin C which helps to boost the immunity) etc in your diet.

Use a Humidifier or vaporizer in your bed room & adjust the level according to your comfort.Avoid smoking & taking other tobacco products completely.
Use Decongestants which are available both in oral or nasal sprays which helps you to get faster relief from throat infection & breathing. But before using just read the label.

Try some non prescription medicines like throat lozenges or hard candy, frozen treats & cough syrup, cough drops to get the relief from the sore throat.
Eat something that is in cold & warm state. As both the temperatures have a unique effect on throat to get rid off the problem. As eating food which is in cold (juice bars) will helps to soothe itching caused by bacteria & eating food which is in warm (Tea, coffee) will improves the blood circulation around the throat.
Take some Analgesics like aspirin, ibuprofen, acetaminophen, pyroxene etc., to get relief from sore throat & its pain.

Take warm heating pad or any cloth & compress it to your throat to get the relief from the pain.
Drink hot milk by adding a small amount of turmeric powder in it.
Don’t eat the oily food which increases the pain & problem.
Analgesic sprays such as Chloroplast may help to get relief from sore throat pain. As it won’t last long we can spray it when you get the pain severely.
Take marshmallows to get the relief from the pain as the gelatin coats & soothes the pain.

Slippery Elm, we use the inner bark of the tree, it contains mucilage to reduce throat irritation & soothe sore throat. It also available in capsule form. You can also try it by adding 1 tsp of inner bark with 2 cups of boiling water. Strain the solution & drink it slowly when it is in warm.Take one table spoon of honey before going to bed as it soothe the throat.

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