How to prevent colds if you go out frequently at night

People say, don't go out often at night because you might catch a cold. Even though you know that colds are not an official disease in the medical world? Colds is a term that only exists in Indonesia. But that doesn't mean catching a cold is a myth. The symptoms are real and must have been complained of by almost everyone. Well, even though it's not a real disease, you can still prevent colds in a variety of easy ways so you can continue your activities smoothly. Contek here the tips.

What exactly is a cold?

There is no term "catch a cold" in the medical world. Reporting from Kompas, according to dr. Mulia Sp. PD, an internal medicine specialist from Pantai Indah Kapuk Hospital, is more accurately described as a group of symptoms (syndrome) which indicates a combination of symptoms from two types of health problems, namely ulcers (dyspepsia) and flu.

The most common symptoms of an ulcer are flatulence, abdominal pain, chest pains, burning sensation in the chest, and frequent belching. Meanwhile, flu symptoms can include sore throat, runny nose, cough, stuffy nose, and fever. The flu can also make you feel unwell and have muscle aches or aches. Starting to feel familiar with this series of "colds" symptoms?

It should be noted that the group of cold symptoms above are not automatically caused by the "ingestion" of the night wind, as many people have understood so far. Ulcers can be caused by increased stomach acid, irritable bowel syndrome, peptic ulcers, lactose intolerance, disorders of the bile or inflammation, symptoms of anxiety, side effects of alcohol, or swallowing too much air. In more severe cases, indigestion can be a sign of stomach cancer.

Meanwhile, the common cold is seasonal and is caused by a virus. Usually this disease will go away on its own when the body's resistance gets stronger again.

What does going out at night and catching a cold have to do?

At night the temperature will drop and get a few degrees cooler. The wind also feels drier and cooler at night.

In cold air, the mucous membranes and hair in the nose decrease in function, making you more susceptible to catching colds. When you have the flu, you have a runny nose or stuffy nose and the release of inflammatory cells that can make your tongue taste bitter. Not infrequently, your appetite also decreases because everything you eat tastes bitter.

If you eat late, then you can then experience an ulcer, which makes your stomach feel bloated and full of gas, accompanied by a constant desire to burp or pass wind. The combination of these two conditions is often considered a cold.

How to prevent colds for those of you who often go out at night

To prevent colds, you need to prevent and treat the two conditions that cause it. Especially for those of you who like to go out at night, this is a way to prevent colds.

1. Using a thick jacket. A jacket can serve to protect you from cold air. Choose a jacket that is comfortable to wear with thick, warm material.
2. Drink warm drinks. Hot drinks have been shown to relieve various symptoms of flu and dyspepsia, such as coughing and flatulence. Warm drinks will improve blood circulation and regulate stomach acid. In order to make a warm drink a good expectorant, you can add honey and lime. In addition, warm water also increases metabolism, improves blood circulation and calms nerves and muscles so that it can reduce symptoms of pain in muscles and joints.
3. Drink less ice. As opposed to warm drinks, ice can cause various symptoms of colds and dyspepsia. Ice water or cold water can shrink blood vessels, leading to clogging or congestion. If it occurs in the nose, the membranes or mucosa will enlarge and secrete a lot of fluid, causing a cold. In addition, drinking cold water can also cause flatulence because cold water can cause muscle contraction in the mucous membranes in the stomach and cause gas.
4. Avoid smoking. Smoking can dry out your respiratory tract and cause it to become damaged. The respiratory tract contains cilia or fine hair which serves to prevent the entry of germs. If the cilia are damaged, germs will easily enter the body.
5. Avoid eating chewing gum and soft drinks. Apparently, colds can also be caused by swallowing too much air. Air can be swallowed a lot and enter the stomach for several things, such as eating chewing gum and drinking soft drinks. This will cause dyspepsia symptoms such as flatulence so that you will often pass gas.