Winter cold, spring cold, even summer - there's just no escaping the pesky bugs flying around even if it not considered 'flu season'.
And we won't lie, when we fall victim, it makes us pretty grumpy.
But if you have been struck down, there are ways you can best treat a cold and what to look out for so you can avoid having to trek to see your GP unnecessarily.
Because there is nothing worse than feeling ill, surrounded by other people feeling ill all to find out you have a cold which you could have treated at home.
In order to give you a helping hand in your hour of need, we have rounded up some top tips that will help you battle the cold and feel right as rain in no time.
So how do you know if you have got a cold?
It is probably pretty obvious but according to the NHS , symptoms include:
- blocked or runny nose
- sore throat
- headaches
- muscle aches
- coughs
- sneezing
- a raised temperature
- pressure in your ears and face
- loss of taste and smell
How to treat a cold yourself
Although we would like to sit and wallow in self pity at how ill we are for a while, there are actually things we can do to help get better quickly.
This includes:
- rest and sleep
- keep warm
- drink plenty of water (fruit juice or squash mixed with water is OK) to avoid dehydration
- gargle salt water to soothe a sore throat
What can I do to try and avoid the cold in the first place?
Sometimes, whatever you do, there is just no way of getting away from it.
But here is a couple of tips that may just help you become a cold warrior.
- avoid sitting in air conditioned environments for too long, such as offices and airplanes
- disinfect everything, from your mobile phone to your work surfaces at home
- exercise, but avoid anything too rigorous that might harm your immune system
- if you can, avoid too much public transport
- try not to become reliant on medicine, or your body will build up an intolerance
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