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Do you feel detracted with the title of the article? Thinking, how come are summer and cold placed in the same sentence? Well, with the kind of destructive changes that the environment has undergone and the kind of stressful and reckless lifestyle we lead, catching a cold during the summer has become a very common phenomenon. It is like any other kind of cold and cough that you contract, only that the symptoms and method of treatment are a bit different than what you would administer for a cold caught during the winters.
Much like every other form of cold, even summer cold has its own list of natural remedies that work better than a formulated compound of chemicals. This is exactly what this article is going to focus on, right from the point of start till the end point of cure-related to the treatment of summer cold.
Table of Contents
- What is Summer Cold?
- How to Get Rid of Summer Cold?
- Home Remedies for Summer Cold
- What Causes Summer Cold?
- Signs and Symptoms of Cold
- How Long Does a Summer Cold Last?
- Summer Cold While Pregnant
- Is Summer Cold Contagious?
- Summer Cold Vs Allergies
What is Summer Cold?
Despite of the common norms, it doesn’t have to be cold for you to catch a cold and summer colds are the primary example of that. When it comes to explaining what summer cold is, it is nothing but a common cold that you catch during the summertime. Unlike the cold that one catches during the winters, summer colds are notorious and a serious pain to get rid of. Contrary to popular belief, the summer colds are also caused by the same kind of rhinovirus that causes every other type of cold and can spread and infect other people as well.
How To Get Rid of Summer Cold?
Much like any other form of cold, treatment for summer cold skirts around some of the common grounds of approach. It is often observed, that the length of the presence of a summer cold is a bit longer than what you would expect with winter cold.
Some of the Basic Summer Cold Remedies Include:
1. Rest Properly
The most basic way is to “sleep it off”. The more strain you put on yourself while you are suffering, the more you are going to prolong the chances of getting better. Getting a cold in summer is definitely a common occurrence now, so, it is always better to be prepared and fight it when time comes. Sleep and proper rest can effectively help in getting rid of the accessory symptoms that accompany a summer cold.
2. Stay Hydrated and Eat Properly
Weakness and lack of hydration are the primary after effects that one faces with the onset of summer cold. In order to combat the summer cold symptoms, it is always advised to keep yourself hydrated and well nourished. Eat loads of fruits and nutritious food alongside juices and water. This collaboratively helps in replenishing the weakness one experiences and helps withstand the symptoms.
3. Humidifiers and Steamers
Keeping yourself warm and cosy is one of the most important factors when it comes to treating a summer cold. Humidifiers and constant steam can help with the clogged nose and clear the nasal pathway so you can breathe a little better. Continue doing this till the symptoms wither away and you would feel the differences right in front of you.
Home Remedies for Summer Cold
Home remedies will always remain a crucial part for the treatment of summer cold. The list of remedies is quite long and each one of them have effectively played their part in curing the major issues related to this condition.
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Saline Rinse
- Steam Inhalation
- Ginger
- Garlic
- Cinnamon and Honey
- Vitamin C
- Fluids
- Milk
- Turmeric
- Onions
- Echinacea
- Peppers
- Herbal Tea
- Essential Oils
1. Apple Cider Vinegar
Treating summer cold with a heavy dosage of medication is often times futile because the aftermath leaves the affected individual weak. The intake of apple cider vinegar has proved to be one of the best remedies to the summer cold symptoms. The bacteria that is persistently seen during colds is killed by the vinegar. This, in turn, doesn’t let the symptoms to prolong, thus healing the patient quickly.
2. Saline Rinse
Many experts suggest that the process of saline nasal rinse can help cut down the summer cold symptoms. One great thing about this remedy is the fact that there are no adverse side effects that come along with this method. It helps in wiping and washing out the infections in the nasal tract that often causes inflammation.
3. Steam Inhalation
Steam inhalation is one of the most common tried and tested natural remedies for summer cold. It helps in clearing the nasal pathway and removing the mucous deposition that blocks the air passage. The warm steam also helps in fighting any probable infection that arises due to hiked levels of bacteria infestation in the body.
3. Ginger and Garlic
Ginger and garlic have a profound effect in the treatment of summer cold. For fighting the summer cold symptoms, you can simply just cut some ginger into small pieces and add a pinch of salt to it and eat them raw throughout the day. Consumption of lightly sauteed garlic in saturated fats like ghee can help with the summer cold as well.
4. Cinnamon and Honey
Drinking a glass of lukewarm water mixed with one teaspoon of honey and cinnamon can not just help with your taste buds but also help lessen the symptoms related to summer cold. It also cures the scratchy irritation that is often caused by sore throat during such times.
5. Vitamin C
Experts have time and time pointed out the little benefits that one can enjoy with the consumption of Vitamin C as a remedy for summer cold. It helps in rejuvenating the body because of the lack of hydration and even maintains the electrolyte balance in the body. Any form of Vitamin C, like that of Lemons, Oranges etc. can be consumed during this phase to help cure it.
6. Fluids and Milk
One of the most visible symptoms of summer cold or any kind of cold in general is the weakness and loss of hydration from the body. In order to compensate for the loss of fluids from the body, it is always advised to drink lots of water, milk and drink fluids of different kinds of keep the body hydration in check.
7. Turmeric
Owing to the amazing anti-septic and anti-bacterial properties that turmeric possesses, it accounts for one of the best natural remedies for summer cold. Adding a good pinch of turmeric to a warm glass of milk and then drinking the same has proven to impart very impactful results to curing the summer cold symptoms.
8. Onions
Onions possess a number of other qualities rather than just making you cry. It is one of the best cures for summer cold. The juice of a red onion can help fight the infections that are accompanied with the summer cold. Onions are rich in anti-microbial properties which helps in healing the symptoms that are often times showcased due to the overwhelming summer cold.
9. Echinacea
The essence or tincture of Echinacea works wonders on the symptoms of summer cold. The primary mode of action of the purple coneflower is by increasing the amount of white blood cells in the body. This helps in fighting the rising levels of infection that one is faced with when they catch a summer cold. This is why it is always best to either consume the available Echinacea tablets or even the tincture works just as fine.
10. Peppers
Peppers, especially cayenne peppers, are known for their decongesting properties. This is one of the primary reasons why it is always advised to eat decongesting foods like that of peppers which decongest the nasal pathway, making it easier for the patients suffering from summer cold to be able to breathe easily without any kind obstruction.
11. Herbal Tea
Teas have always been a beneficial contributor as a remedy to any and every type of cold. Add in a dose of some herbal ingredients in it and your summer cold symptoms are sure to run away before time. There are several options when it comes to drinking herbal tea during summer cold. Most people like to adhere to options that they like the most and that is more than enough. Teas help in restoring the hydration and the herbal ingredients themselves impact their own benefits.
12. Essential Oils
Essential oils provide with an amazing soothing effect to people suffering from summer cold. They have a distinct property that not just soothes the mind but decongests the nose as well which is definitely an added bonus. Add in a few drops of your favourite essential oil to your bath and just soak yourself for a good 20-30 minutes. It energises one’s mind and helps them feel fresh which is definitely a rare occurrence with summer cold.
What Causes Summer Cold?
Summer or winter, catching a cold can happen any time. It is important to understand for a fact that the weather is not the primary determinant of the cold; it’s the virus that causes the issue. So, if you catch a cold during the summers, it is primarily because of the presence of the rhinovirus which is the common vector of every kind of common cold. It is very important to be aware of the signs and symptoms and administer similar remedies for the treatment of summer cold before the situation becomes worse.
Signs and Symptoms of Summer Cold
The signs and symptoms of a summer cold are not drastically different that what one would experience during a common cold in the winters. Most of the symptoms coincide with each other and are easy to spot and identify.
Some of the most visible symptoms of summer cold include:
- Stuffy or a runny nose
- Sore and scratchy throat
- Cough
- Congestion
- Mild or severe headache
- Persistent Body aches
- Continuous sneezing
- Weakness
- Dizzy feeling at times
- Fever or consistent temperature
How Long Does a Summer Cold Last?
Much like what we witness during any other time around the year, a summer cold is expected to last for a week or 10 days at most. It is often times seen that the signs and symptoms associated with summer cold start getting better once the seven day mark is reached. That being said, there is never a fixed timeline for these kind of diseases because of the fact that every person’s immune system varies and is going to be different from the next one. But on general terms, the summer cold symptoms stretch for a maximum of ten days or so.
Summer Cold While Pregnant
Contracting a summer cold during pregnancy is often times a very common occurrence. Whatever your frights be with this fact, in general norms, catching a cold is not something deadly for the fetus growing. It sure does affect the health of the one pregnant because of the signs and symptoms that accompany summer cold. It is very important to not let these symptoms get heavier on you and take immediate medical measures for the treatment of the summer cold. It is one of the most important factors that one need to be very well versed with when it comes to contracting a nasty summer cold during pregnancy.
Is Summer Cold Contagious?
Summer colds are primarily the resultant of a virus attack and infestation. The primary virus involved in this is the rhinovirus which is what causes the summer cold symptoms. When it comes to if or not the summer cold is contagious, the answer is yes. Much like any other virus borne disease, even this is communicable. The highest amount of risk lies during the first three days which later mellows down with the passing days till the person is completely cured.
Summer Cold Vs Simple Allergies
Even though the symptoms of a summer cold and allergies coincide, it is necessary to know that these are completely two different verticals. While allergies are cause by allergens, a summer cold is primarily caused by rhinovirus. One of the easiest ways of distinguishing between the two is by watching the persistence of the symptoms. The allergies are expected to not prolong for days and die down pretty quickly following the first trigger from the allergen.
This is not the case with a summer cold. The symptoms are very persistent and prolong for a week or more. They highlighted symptoms with summer cold tend to be the general signs that you see in every person but the aftereffects of an allergy often times varies from person to person. It is thus very important to understand the severity of the symptoms and then finally put a name to the disease, whether it’s a summer cold or allergy effect.
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