I arrive home tired and with a slight fever. A little later my nose gets stuffy and sometimes runny. Sniff, sniff, uhurm. I’m dead certain the cold got me.
INSTANT REMEDY. After a little rest, I give myself a good warm bath then I take paracetamol(of any brand) and massage my forehead with vaporub or ointment. Applying liniment on the sore muscles will also help. And if there’s a budding sore throat I gargle with warm water mixed with a little salt. What’s next is to relax by reclining on the sofa and watch TV or read a relaxing book. And if the fever doesn’t subside, I have to enclose my whole body in a thick blanket to make me perspire. Of course, I should be conscious of the sweat, that it should be wiped instantly, lest I worsen the ailment that’s bugging me.
OTHER HOME REMEDIES. If the medicine cabinet is empty I need to improvise. Boiling ginger on water will surely relieve me of any throat congestions. I sometimes add a little sugar for taste and sip the concoction slowly. The hot ginger ale will also fight off the fever. To combat the headache, a hot compress bottle will do the trick by intermittently applying the bottle on my forehead until sweat comes out. I never forget to take a nap to regain my lost strength.
PREVENTION. Colds is brought about by a virus and this virus attacks bodies with weak resistance. Vitamin C, which can be found in citrus fruits, is a good defense against colds because they build up a good resistance for the body. Eating the right foods, like vegetables, will also help. And don’t you ever forget the exercise: a brisk morning walk or a 5-minute jog-in-place is more than enough to give you the required daily stamina.
Getting sick is no joke. As they say, Lose money and you lose nothing but Lose health and you lose everything. So we have to learn how to love our bodies, how to give it the proper nutrition, the ample exercise, how to indulge in a healthful lifestyle and staying happy and content.