Here we go again: You woke up this morning, and that cold you felt coming on is now in full bloom. Your head hurts. Your throat feels sore, and you have a cough. With more than 200 different types of viruses responsible for the common cold, you're likely to get sick a few times a year or more, according to the National Institutes of Health. As an adult, you’re likely to have two or three colds a year, and kids catch eight or more colds a year on average. If you treat it properly, your cold is likely to last a week or two. But if you don't, it could lag on longer. Here are some common mistakes that prolong cold and flu misery.
7 Surprising Things You Should Never Do While Battling A Cold
By
Michael Avery in
Health and Fitness
On 14th December 2016
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1. Blow Your Nose Too Hard
If your nose is running, it's fine to blow it. If your head is congested, blowing your nose can cause inflammation in the mucous membranes, which will make your congestion worse.
2. Smoke Cigarettes
Smoking can prolong a cold and keep your cough around for weeks longer than necessary.
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3. Ask Your Doc for Antibiotics
Most colds are caused by viruses, not bacteria. That means you're wasting money and reducing the effectiveness of antibiotics if you take them.
4. Do Heavy Exercise
Doing light or moderate exercise can be good for you when you're sick, but working out too hard can deplete your body of the energy it needs to fight the infection.
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5. Drink Alcohol
Unless you're sipping a Hot Toddy before bed, there's almost no reason to drink alcohol while you have a cold. It can dehydrate you and encourage other bad behavior like smoking and not resting.
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6. Overdo the Vitamins
Your body can only absorb so much of any vitamin or mineral, so taking more than you can absorb is not helpful. It can also lead to diarrhea, which will dehydrate you and prolong your cold.
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7. Use Too Much Zinc Nasal Spray
A shot of zinc up the nose can shorten the duration of a cold, but using it too much can actually destroy your sense of smell.
