A cold is a mild viral infection of the nose, throat, sinuses and upper airways. It's very common and usually clears up on its own within a week or two.
Adults have an average of two to three colds a year. Children have an average of five to six colds a year. Young children in nursery schools may average up to twelve colds per year.
The main symptoms of a cold include:
• Sore throat
• Blocked or runny nose
• Sneezing
• Cough
More severe symptoms, including a high temperature (fever), headache and aching muscles can also occur, although these tend to be associated more with flu.
WHAT TO DO:
There's no cure for a cold, but you can look after yourself at home by,
• Resting, drinking plenty of fluids and eating healthily.
• Taking over-the-counter painkillers, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen to help with headaches, temperatures and even sore throats.
• Using decongestant sprays to relieve a blocked nose.
• Trying remedies such as gargling salt water to help with a sore throat (not suitable for children).
Many painkillers, decongestants and other medicines are available from pharmacies without a prescription. When buying any medicine please always run it by your pharmacist so you they can make sure these medicines are ok for you to take.
WHEN TO SEE YOUR GP:
You only really need to contact your GP if:
• Your symptoms persist for more than three weeks.
• Your symptoms get suddenly worse.
• You have breathing difficulties.
• You develop complications of a cold, such as chest pain or coughing up bloodstained mucus.
It might also be a good idea to speak to your Pharmacist or GP if you're concerned about your baby or an elderly person, or if you have a long-term illness such as a lung condition. You can also phone NHS 111 for advice.
HOW TO STOP THE SPREAD OF A COLD:
You can take some simple steps to help prevent the spread of a cold. For example:
• Use your own cup, plates, cutlery and kitchen utensils.
• Don't share towels or toys with someone who has a cold
• Wash your hands regularly, particularly before touching your nose or mouth and before handling food.
• Always sneeze and cough into tissues – this will help prevent the virus-containing droplets from your nose and mouth entering the air, where they can infect others; you should throw away used tissues immediately and wash your hands.
• Clean surfaces regularly to keep them free of germs.
For more information on stopping the spread visit:
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ABOUT ME:
Prescribing Media Pharmacist | Bringing Science Through New Film Every Monday | Extreme Optimist
I'm a British - Persian - Iranian prescribing media pharmacist who loves science, making videos and helping people. I work in both GP surgeries and community pharmacy.
DISCLAIMER:
This video is for information only and should not be used for the diagnosis or treatment of medical conditions. Abraham The Pharmacist has used all reasonable care in compiling the information but make no warranty as to its accuracy. Always consult a doctor or other health care professional for diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions.
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