ARVI treatment: everything that can and cannot help

The news is good: all this time, as long as the immune system will identify, catch and destroy the infection, it is not at all necessary to suffer. There are effective ways to relieve symptoms. Up to the point that you even feel like a cucumber on the second day of the disease. Of course, even though you feel good, you will still be sick inside. But it's easier to fight with a good mood and a sore.

What is ARVI and how does it differ from influenza

Both ARVI and influenza are respiratory viral diseases, so their symptoms are almost the same. But ARVI is a relatively harmless disease. But the flu is more contagious, tenacious and fraught with serious, sometimes deadly complications such as bronchitis, pneumonia, meningitis, encephalitis … Therefore, the approach to influenza treatment should be more careful.

The American Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has developed Cold Versus Flu, a simple checklist to make sure you don't go wrong. Analyze your condition according to the following parameters.

1. Onset of the disease

With SARS, you get worse gradually. At first, a runny nose may appear, then - a slight sore throat, a little later - a slight temperature …

The flu cuts out instantly. Even 10 minutes ago, everything was fine, and now the temperature jumps up, and you suddenly feel bad.

2. Temperature

With ARVI, it is relatively low - 37–38 ° С. With the flu, he is seriously feverish: the temperature on the move reaches 38, 5 ° C and above.

3. Runny nose

With ARVI, it starts immediately. And often even before you realize that you are sick.

The flu is not inherent in the common cold. Only in some cases does it appear on the 2-3rd day.

4. Sore throat

This characteristic, almost obligatory for ARVI symptom with influenza (at least at its start) is almost never encountered.

5. Cough

With ARVI is not required. Influenza is almost always accompanied by a cough. And this symptom is often painful.

6. Discomfort in the eyes

During ARVI, it is rare, and if it appears, it seems as if sand has been poured into the eyes.

But the flu affects the organs of vision almost always. This is manifested by cutting, redness, lacrimation and photophobia.

7. Other symptoms of intoxication

As a rule, ARVI makes itself felt mildly: some weakness, weakness, possibly mild dizziness. The flu, on the other hand, appears on many fronts at once: chills, headache and muscle pain (as after a hard workout), aches in the joints accompany the infection from the start.

What ARVI treatment exactly works

If you are convinced that you have SARS and not the flu, here are seven effective and scientifically proven Cold remedies: What works, what doesn’t, what can’t hurt relieve symptoms.

1. Drink more

Adequate moisture in the body is a prerequisite to speed up recovery. The point is in the condition of the mucous membranes.

Mucus - for example, the very snot in the nose - is a powerful protective tool of immunity.

It traps viruses at the very entrance to the body. Perhaps your body has already almost coped with the ARVI that got into it, but you again and again breathe in the air where there is an infection, and the mucous membrane is dry, thinned, and a new portion of the virus enters the bloodstream, which is why the recovery is delayed.

To keep the mucous membranes hydrated, drink more. Water, juice, broth, water with honey and lemon, compote - any of these drinks will help prevent dehydration. But alcohol, coffee, soda are best avoided: they can accelerate the elimination of fluid.

2. Control the humidity in the room

Dry air dries up the mucous membrane. This remark is especially true in winter, when the humidity in heated houses drops to 15–20%.

You need to keep it at 40-60%. To do this, install a humidifier or use any other available and free method.

3. Flush your nose with saline

The goal is the same: to keep the mucous membrane hydrated. Salt helps to retain moisture, and the effect of this rinsing lasts longer.

Saline nasal sprays should be taken with you if you have to go out into public places where the concentration of the virus in the air may be high. Use them at least once an hour and a half.

4. Ventilate the room

Viruses feel great in dry, warm, still air: they actively multiply, gain strength … Don't give them this chance. In cool and moving air, viral particles become less comfortable, the concentration of infection decreases sharply. Therefore, regular end-to-end ventilation is a sure way to make it easier for the body to fight ARVI and speed up recovery.

5. Take a walk in the fresh air

Naturally, if the state of health allows. The goal is the same: to be in the moving cool air and not to swallow new viruses.

6. Ease pain and discomfort

Painkillers will not affect the speed of recovery, but will help improve the condition.

If your throat hurts, rinsing with salt water will help reduce the discomfort. Dissolve about half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water and rinse. You can also try over-the-counter sprays or lozenges for sore throat.

If we are talking about general malaise - simultaneous discomfort in the nose and throat, headache - take a medicine based on ibuprofen or paracetamol. But do not overuse it: these drugs also lower the temperature.

And the temperature with ARVI is a blessing, since it helps the body to fight the virus more effectively.

With nasal congestion, vasoconstrictor nasal drops will help - they relieve swelling and allow you to breathe freely again. Use the medicine in strict accordance with the instructions so as not to harm and not translate a runny nose and congestion into the category of chronic.

7. Get some rest

Lying in bed or on the couch is the best way to help the body defeat SARS as quickly as possible. While you are resting, your body doesn’t have to spend energy on anything other than fighting infection.

Yes, in the modern world, many "cannot afford to be sick." But judge for yourself, which is better: spend a day or two at home and return to work healthy and energetic, or survive a cold on your feet, stretching it for up to three weeks and at the same time infecting at least a dozen people around you?

What ARVI treatment will not help, but only harm

Sometimes people think that they are being treated, but in fact they only undermine the body's defenses. As a result, the illness lasts longer. Here's what to do with ARVI is categorically impossible.

1. Taking antibiotics

Antibiotics - they are antibiotics because they act on living (bio-) organisms - bacteria. But not viruses.

Prescribing antibiotics for ARVI, a person loads the liver, which could purify the blood from the virus. Because of this, the period of goodbye to the infection may increase, that is, you will be sick with ARVI longer.

In some cases, a viral infection can cause bacterial complications, and then antibiotics are justified and necessary. But! Only a therapist can prescribe the drug. And only after tests that confirm the presence of a bacterial infection.

2. Taking antiviral

There are no antiviral agents whose effectiveness against ARVI has been proven. Taking these drugs will at least not bring results, and as a maximum, their side effects can be harmful to health.

3. Taking over the counter cold remedies for young children

Such drugs have a number of side effects, sometimes quite serious. If an adult organism can possibly tolerate them without consequences, then young children are more vulnerable. Therefore, before buying your baby cough syrup or something other "cold cough", be sure to consult a pediatrician.

What treatment for ARVI is questionable, but may work

These tools are quite popular. But scientists are still not sure about them. Although we have already found some advantages.

Vitamin C

Taking it does not help prevent disease. But in some cases it speeds up recovery. For this, it is important to take vitamin C before the onset of a cold: then it will cut back 5 Tips: Natural Products for the Flu and Colds: What Does the Science Say? the duration and severity of symptoms. Therefore, vitamins are recommended for those who have an increased risk of contracting ARVI due to constant contact with other people - for example, teachers, preschoolers and schoolchildren who attend crowded classes, conductors of public transport, and so on.

Echinacea

Here, too, are ambiguous results. Some studies do not show Cold remedies: What works, what doesn’t, what can’t hurt any benefit from taking this herbal remedy.

Others demonstrate that echinacea-based drugs can reduce the duration and severity of unpleasant symptoms in ARVI.

To achieve the maximum effect, doctors recommend starting taking echinacea at the first sign of the disease and continuing for 7-10 days.

Zinc

Some research suggests that zinc tablets or syrups can cut 5 Tips: Natural Products for the Flu and Colds: What Does the Science Say? the duration of the cold by one day and reduce the severity of symptoms.

In any case, you should not prescribe these supplements yourself - be sure to consult with a therapist. Especially if you have any chronic diseases or are taking other medications: under such conditions, side effects may increase.

First aid for fracture: what can and cannot be done

Let's be honest, there isn't much you can do. But even a little thing can sometimes save a life. Cracked or broken bone (no matter where: in the arm, leg, ribs, pelvis …) is not always obvious. Meanwhile, its sharp edges, hidden under the skin and inside tissues, can disrupt the integrity of large blood vessels or even pierce vital organs.