What causes Coughs and Colds?

Many people believe that coughs and colds go hand in hand. This is not the case. While coughs do accompany the common cold, there are coughs that are caused by factors totally unrelated and dissimilar to the factors that come into play in the case of colds.

• Coughs are caused when irritants enter your air passages. Much like when you sneeze, these irritants cause your body to react involuntarily, to dispel these irritants from your air passages. However, in some situations, these irritants cannot be dispelled easily and take weeks or months to leave your body.
  
  Based on how long the cough lasts, medical experts have categorized coughs into two categories; acute and chronic. Acute coughs last for up to three weeks. A good example of a kind of acute cough is whooping cough. Chronic coughs, on the other hand, last much longer than an acute cough. Chronic bronchitis is a perfect example of a recurring cough that lasts much longer than normal.
• The Common Cold is caused by Rhinoviruses. Rhinoviruses are invisible droplets that are in the air we breathe and rest on things that we touch as part of our daily lives. These rhinoviruses enter our bodies via our noses and our throats, causing symptoms of the common cold like a sore throat and headaches. Our immune system attempts to protect our bodies from these rhinoviruses by making it harder for us to breathe.

What can you do to minimise your Risk?

The best thing you can do to minimise the chances of contracting a cough is to stop smoking or avoid inhaling second hand smoke. This is of crucial importance, especially to people who suffer from various chronic coughs.

Besides visiting your doctor, there are quite a few things that you can do at home to treat your cough, particularly if it is an acute cough.

You could visit your local pharmacy and purchase over-the-counter medication for coughs and colds that have been recommended by your pharmacist.

Colds can be prevented by not coming into close proximity with a person who exhibits symptoms of a cold or a person who smokes. Irritants and rhinoviruses, as we know, are present in the air and can affect you easily. If someone in your family has a cold, do not use the same towels as the person in question or pick up their used tissues.

What causes the Flu?

Also known as Influenza, the Flu is also caused by viruses that are transmitted via the air we breathe. You could be exposed to these viruses if someone sneezes or coughs in close proximity to you. The flu is more likely to cause an epidemic and affect an entire community than coughs and colds. There are three strains of the flu and older people are the most susceptible. Symptoms commonly associated with the flu include high fever, sweating, weakness and chills.

What can you do to minimise Risk? Is there a Cold Cure?

Receiving immunisation once a year is a good idea. The immunisation starts protecting you from the virus within two weeks of you being immunised and protects you for a year. Ideally, you should get immunised between the months of March and May. This ensures that you are fully equipped and protected to handle the onset of flu season.

If you do get the flu, there are a few things that you can do at home which are guaranteed to make you feel a bit better. Stay at home and rest for at least two days after your temperature has been regulated. Drink lots of fluids and take the medication recommended by your doctor. Paracetamol and Aspirin have been known to work wonders easing aches and pains in this scenario.

Cold flu and Coughs can be Overcome – Find a Cold Cure

Luckily, in most scenarios cold flu and coughs do not last more than a week and are easily treatable. It is mandatory, however, that whether it be by consulting your physician or buying over-the-counter medication cold flu and coughs are treated early.