How to Treat a Common Cold

It is absolutely crucial for anyone suffering from a cold or virus to take care of themselves first. Your health is the only thing that will determine how well you can do. For example, the ability to think can be seriously altered when you are ill. There's nothing more obvious about illness than a person coming to work spreading the cold to others. The thoughts that your work cannot do without you shows that you're really confusing helping people with making everybody sick. If your job means that much to you, so should your health. Here are eight tips to keep in mind to keep your sick days short. According to the author Clifford R. Anderson MD of the book "Modern Ways To Health Volume I and II" you should follow this regimen toward good health.

1) Stay In Bed and Rest: Understand that your immune system is weakened, and bed rest gives your body a chance to get back to normal. This is good for severe head aches and chest colds.

2) Take A Hot Bath: Water has a healing power that can draw out poisons through your pores. In addition, water can also increase blood flow and relieve congestion in your system.

3) Use A Heating Compress: This is not done with hot water. Take a towel and make sure it is dampened by cold water. Next, wrap the towel around your neck and cover with flannel clothing. Get under the covers to keep warm, and your body will heat up against the cool towel.

4) Inhalation Therapy: Using a steam humidifier is good for unclogging your nasal passages. Vick's Vapor Rub has camphor that can help break through the congestion in your chest also. Your nasal passages are swollen during a cold, and when you use those methods it can shrink the passage down to make breathing easier.

5) Hot Foot Bath: This is a good method to relieve head and sinus trouble. All you need is 15 to 20 minutes in a hot foot bath to draw the congestion away from your head and into the water through your pores. If you are diabetic, you are not suppose to soak your feet. Try drinking hot tea to relieve any congestion .

6) Hot Packs or Formentations: If you are suffering with an infection, this would be very good for you. Make sure you place unscalding hot packs on your chest, spine, sore muscles, or joints. Be careful not to burn your skin.

7) Decongestants or Nasal Spray: The whole idea is to take over-the-counter medicines that will treat each of your symptoms. I always choose the liquid medication to help relieve me. However, there are some herbal remedies that can burst through the mucous congestion which is Echinacea purpurea and Goldenseal in capsule form. If you do not have that drink 2 tablespoons of pure lemon juice with water throughout the day, and you will find that it is good.

8) See Your Doctor: If you have a high fever, and nothing else is helping you very much it is imperative that you see your doctor or call 911. Seek medical help especially if your symptoms progressed. It is best not to take any chances when it comes to your health, job and family which are your responsibilities.

When it comes to your health and the health of others around you, it is best to stay home and heal yourself before going out in public again. Keep these certain items in your home in case anyone in your household comes down with a cold or virus. After all, there's nothing like feeling good .