Colds: causes, symptoms and how to treat them

Definition

What is a cold?

A cold is a condition where there is excess mucus or fluid in the nose. Depending on the underlying cause, mucus or mucus can be thick, runny, clear, or cloudy. Sometimes, mucus can also go down into the throat.

Mucus production is actually a normal thing in the body. The function of mucus is to keep your airways moist, so that you can breathe smoothly. In addition, mucus also contains antibodies that can help kill bacteria.

However, certain health conditions can cause the body to overproduce mucus, for example when the body is exposed to dust, allergens (allergens), cold air, or viruses.

Although not a serious health problem, this condition can interfere with activities because the symptoms are quite disturbing. Colds can make it difficult to breathe due to a runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, coughing, and weakness.

How common is this condition?

The cold is a very common condition. Anyone can experience this condition at any time.

Usually, when entering winter or rainy season, a person is more prone to experience a stuffy or runny nose. Apart from the weather, other factors can also be involved, such as allergies or consumption of certain drugs.

Signs & symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of a cold?

The most obvious signs and symptoms of a cold are a stuffy nose, producing more mucus, and sneezing.

Many people experience the symptoms of a runny or stuffy nose. This usually depends on the cause of the cold itself.

Some people can get a stuffy nose when they have a cold because the blood vessels in the nose are dilated. As a result, the tissue inside the nose swells. Meanwhile, some others experience constant runny nose due to the production of mucus or excess mucus.

Apart from excess mucus and nasal congestion, sometimes there are additional symptoms that accompany it, such as:

• Cough
• Headache
• Losing the ability to smell
• Sleep snoring
• Sore throat
• Feeling weak and powerless

When should I see a doctor?

Colds are conditions that usually resolve without special treatment. However, be aware of the following symptoms when you have a cold:

• Keep having a high fever even though you have taken paracetamol
• Often vomits
• Nasal congestion to shortness of breath
• The color of the mucus may turn out to be unusual, such as greenish
• Severe sore throat, hoarseness or hoarseness
• Severe headache
• Keep coughing
• Pain in the sinus passages
• Ringing in ears
• Decreased appetite until body weight decreases dramatically

Any unusual signs and symptoms may indicate that your body is fighting a viral infection. Immediately consult a doctor if your nose continues to run or your symptoms get worse. This could be part of the symptoms of flu or other serious illness.

In principle, immediately consult a doctor if you feel something unusual from your body, your child, or those around you. Remember, the sooner you get treatment, the better your chances of a quick recovery.

Cause

What causes colds?

Colds are symptoms or signs of a health condition or disease that you are experiencing.

A runny or blocked nose is generally caused by swelling of the tissue inside the nose. This occurs due to inflammation of the tissues and blood vessels in the nose.

Some of the diseases or health conditions that often cause colds include:

1. Infection

When someone has a certain viral or bacterial infection, one of the most common symptoms is a runny nose. The most common condition is the common cold cough aliascommon cold (cold). This condition is caused by rhinovirus infection.

In addition, other viral infections, such as influenza, can also cause flu with typical cold symptoms.

At first glance, you might think that colds and flu are the same condition. In fact, they are very different conditions.

The key difference between colds and flu lies in their causes. If the common cold is caused by a rhinovirus, the flu is usually caused by infection with the influenza virus.

Besidescommon coldand influenza, viral and bacterial infections can also trigger sinus infections or sinusitis. This condition can be acute and chronic.

2. Allergies

Allergies are also one of the causes of colds. When a person is exposed to allergens or allergens, such as dust or certain foods, the tissue inside the nose will become inflamed and mucus production will increase.

3. Certain drugs

Not only health conditions, some types of drugs can also trigger cold symptoms, such as decongestant nasal sprays.

Indeed, decongestants aim to relieve nasal congestion. However, their use must be limited for 3 days. Instead, consult your doctor regarding the use of decongestant drugs to avoid getting a cold that gets worse.

4. Exposure to cold air

If the body is exposed to cold or dry air, this condition can upset the balance of mucus levels in the nose. As a result, the nose will experience inflammation and congestion.

5. Nonallergic rhinitis

Nonallergic rhinitis is a condition in which your nose often gets cold, but there are no signs of infection, allergy, or any illness. In other words, the exact cause is unknown.

However, according to the Mayo Clinic, there are several triggers that are most likely to influence the occurrence of nonallergic rhinitis, such as:

• Hormonal changes
• Exposure to cigarette smoke or certain chemicals
• Certain foods and drinks
• Take certain medications, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or high blood pressure medications
• Sleep disturbance or sleep apnea

Risk factors

What increases my risk of developing this condition?

There are many things that can make you experience a runny or stuffy nose, including:

1. Age

Children, especially those under the age of six, are at high risk for colds. This is because their immune systems are not yet perfect to fight against many viruses.

Young children also tend to have more close contact with other children. Children generally also don't practice good hygiene, such as not washing their hands regularly or covering their mouths when coughing or sneezing.

2. Season

Although you can experience a cold at any time, this symptom is more common during the rainy season. During this season, you tend to spend a lot of time just indoors with other people.

Being in the room with other people also makes you breathe the same air for a long time, including if any of you have a cold.

3. Allergies

People with allergies generally experience this condition throughout their lives. That means, if the person is exposed to allergens (substances that cause allergies), the symptoms will continue to appear.

The symptoms will not go away even after taking cold medicine. The only way to relieve symptoms is to avoid allergy triggers.

4. Suffering from nasal congestion and chronic sinus infections

This condition refers to a blockage (obstruction) in the nose or nasal cavity that blocks the passage of breathing. Sinus infections or sinusitis often cause cold symptoms accompanied by throbbing pain around the eyes, forehead, and nose.

5. Smoking

Smoking can interfere with your immune system, which in turn makes you more susceptible to catching colds and other viral infections.

The cold symptoms experienced by a smoker are generally worse than that of nonsmokers.

6. Lack of sleep

Lack of sleep affects your immune system. When you don't get enough sleep, your immune system will experience a decline. As a result, you will be more susceptible to various viral infections.

7. Psychological stress

Psychological stress can also be a risk factor that makes you more susceptible to illnesses accompanied by cold symptoms. This is because this condition affects how the hormone cortisol, which is a hormone responsible for regulating inflammation in the body, works.

When you are stressed, cortisol may be less effective at controlling the body's inflammatory response to the viruses or bacteria that cause the flu or cold. As a result, you will be more susceptible to disease.

Diagnosis and treatment

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

How is this condition diagnosed?

Most people have a cold can be detected by the signs and symptoms they experience.

If your doctor suspects you have a bacterial infection or other condition, they may order a chest x-ray or other tests. This is done so that the doctor can find out other causes of your symptoms.

How to treat colds?

In fact, resting at home during a cold and drinking lots of water is the most effective way to relieve this condition. However, if your runny nose and congestion interfere with your activities, you can take certain medications to relieve symptoms.

Here are some cold medicines that can be taken to treat a runny nose.

• Paracetamol or ibuprofen for pain relief
• a decongestant (pseudoephedrine) to thin mucus in the nose
• antihistamines (dipenhydramine) if a cold is triggered by an allergy
• antiviral (can only be obtained by prescription

Apart from chemical drugs, a number of natural ingredients can also be used to relieve cold symptoms. Choose a natural cold remedy that is rich in zinc, vitamin C, or vitamin D.

Home remedies

What are the lifestyle changes to prevent colds?

Colds are a condition that can be prevented with some lifestyle changes as listed below. The methods below are also effective for preventing flu or influenza.

Here are some things you can do to prevent colds:

1. Wash your hands diligently

One of the effective efforts to prevent the spread of disease is to diligently wash your hands. Wash your hands with running water and soap before eating or every time you finish toilet business.

If soap and water are not available, use them hand sanitizer alcohol based.

2. Be diligent in cleaning up the house

Clean every corner of your house regularly to prevent the spread of disease and reduce the risk of exposure to allergens. Clean kitchens and bathrooms with disinfectant, especially when someone in your family has a cold.

3. Use a handkerchief or tissue

Every time you sneeze or cough, cover it with a handkerchief to prevent spreading the virus to other people. You can also use tissue. However, make sure to immediately throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands.

If you don't have a tissue, when sneezing or coughing it's best to point your mouth to the inner elbow.

4. Avoid contact with sufferers

Don't share drinking glasses or utensils with sufferers, even if it's your family. Use your own or disposable cups when you or someone else is sick.

You can label the cup or glass with the name of the person who has the cold.

5. Take care of health

Apart from those already mentioned above, make sure you also take good care of yourself. This can be done by adopting a healthy diet, regular exercise, getting enough sleep, and managing stress.