How to prevent colds at home in spring

As winter turns to spring, it is a high-incidence season for colds. We remind you of the necessity of family prevention and care for colds in order to reduce the number of cases, alleviate patients' suffering, reduce pressure on hospitals, and reduce medical expenses.

1. Family prevention: It is especially important to focus on prevention when it comes to colds. We should strengthen our own health care, lead a regular life, combine work and rest, eat scientifically, and dress according to climate changes; keep feet, knees, and back warm, wash face and nose with cold water in the morning; insist on physical exercise, and keep emotions calm; pay attention to fresh indoor air, open windows for ventilation for at least fifteen minutes in the morning; if influenza patients are found at home, the air should be disinfected by fumigation with vinegar in time; applying garlic liquid to the nostrils of healthy people or taking a few cloves of garlic orally can also reduce infection.

2. The word "early" should be reflected: As the saying goes, "The disease should be treated early and the medicine should be taken early." A cold is an external symptom. If the external pathogens are not eliminated, they will enter the interior and turn into heat, causing the disease to worsen. When you or your family members catch a cold, you can press the "axillary" point (the depression between the metacarpophalangeal joints of the fourth and fifth fingers on the back of the hand); or take scallion and ginger soup to induce sweating and dispel the cold, and most of the external symptoms will be relieved. If the symptoms are severe, take medication early to control the progression of the disease.

3. Reasonable diet: After catching a cold, you should eat a light, easily digestible, high-protein, high-vitamin diet. Choose eggs or soy products as protein. Do not eat meat, fish, or shrimp for the time being. Eat more vegetables and fruits. It is best to eat warm food or boiled water to drink. Avoid eating raw or cold food. Supplement with honey to moisten the lungs and promote bowel movements. If you have body aches and cough, you can take the recipe for regulating the Ying and Wei (boil pears, dates, ginger, and rock sugar in water and mix it with an egg), once in the morning and once in the evening, and rest after taking it.

4. Key protection: Focus on protecting the elderly, children, and critically ill patients, because these people are susceptible to colds and are prone to secondary complications once they catch a cold. Pay attention to keeping warm, assist the patient in expectorating, protect the airway, closely observe changes in body temperature, breathing and other conditions, and send to the hospital for diagnosis and treatment if necessary without delay.

5. Notes:

(1) When sweating for a cold, stop when sweating starts and do not sweat too much. You should not sweat as soon as you have a fever. If you sweat profusely, it will not only dissipate your Yang energy, but also damage your Yin essence, which is especially prone to exhaustion in the elderly.

(2) Do not use antibiotics routinely: Colds can usually be cured with antipyretics. If you have a high fever or severe cough, you can go to the hospital and use antibiotics in a targeted manner after examination. Do not use it casually at home, especially penicillin, which must be injected in the hospital or community medical center to avoid allergic reactions.

(3) Medication should be differentiated according to the syndrome: “Cold” can be caused by cold or heat. You should differentiate between cold and heat and take pungent and warm herbs to dispel the symptoms, such as Guizhi Decoction, or pungent and cool herbs to dispel the symptoms, such as Sangju Decoction. Alternatively, you can take medication under the guidance of a doctor.