Between autumn and spring, up to 90% of people suffer from colds. Some - several times a season. Cold symptoms seem so familiar that most of us visit the clinic only as a last resort, when the usual methods of treatment are not effective.

Meanwhile, people who self-medicate often take the wrong medications. As a result, complications may occur. Incorrect treatment, in turn, leads to chronic disease respiratory tract.

First sign of a cold

Any cold in humans is caused by viruses. Pathogens penetrate us:

• With inhaled air;
• directly upon contact of the oral mucosa with infected utensils, with fingers, during kissing, etc.

Thus, the first place where the virus enters is the nasopharyngeal mucosa. Local immunity of the nasopharynx reacts with an increase in secretion, redness, and swelling.

The very first sign of a cold is a sore throat and tickling in the nose.

There is no need to wait for other signs to appear. They will almost certainly appear within the next few hours. But it is always better to start any treatment earlier.

Colds and fever

Many people believe that a cold must certainly be accompanied by a rise in temperature. This is a big misconception, leading to the fact that treatment begins late. Or it doesn’t start at all – “it will go away on its own.”

An increase in temperature is a basic mechanism of protection against microbial-viral threats. At temperatures above 38.5 0C, pathogens slow down their reproduction.

However, an adult very often has a cold without fever, because... his body is “familiar” with cold viruses and does not see them as a serious threat to health.

Vice versa, children's body faced with many microbiological threats for the first time. Therefore, the reaction is always very violent: fever appears in response to any viral or bacterial danger and occurs literally instantly.

Thus, a cold without fever in an adult is common occurrence. The absence of an elevated temperature does not mean that the medicine does not need to be taken.

What medications should you take at the first sign of a cold?

There are many respiratory viruses. All of them, when entering the body, release special substances that suppress the immune system. Then they penetrate our healthy cells, in which they begin their own replication. The process is developing rapidly, in geometric progression.

What to take at the first sign of a cold to stop a viral attack (optional):

• Cycloferon;
• Lavomax;
• Kagocel;
• Anaferon;
• Ergoferon;
• Ingavirin;
• Arbidol.

The listed medications stimulate the immune system, making it insensitive to the inhibitory effects of viruses. As a result, virus replication slows down.

Which drug to choose?

By the nature of their effects they are immunomodulatory agents. Some of them have additional effects, for example:

• Ergoferon – relieves irritation of the mucous membrane;
• Arbidol - affects a specific surface protein of the virus, preventing its fusion with cells;
• Ingavirin - slows down the rate of virus migration in the affected cells.

Arbidol and Ingavirin are the most effective medications at the first sign of a cold, because they not only stimulate response immune system, but also help it by acting directly on the virus.

At the same time, these drugs are also the most expensive: a 7-day course of treatment will cost 800 and 500 rubles, respectively.

If you are looking for what to take if you have signs of a cold in the budget segment, then the best option there will be Anaferon. Its cost is from 200 to 250 rubles. for a week's course.

If convenience is important to you medicine, then you should opt for Ingavirin: you will need to take only 1 capsule per day without interconnection with food intake.

What medications are best to avoid?

At the first symptoms of a cold in adults, you should not take:

• Antipyretics;

Antipyretics are widely represented by drugs based on paracetamol - Rinicold, Influnet, Fervex and many others. Many people believe that they should be taken at a fever. This is partly true: if you have a body temperature of more than 38.5 0C, you can use these remedies to relieve symptoms. However, you need to understand that such a “lowering” of temperature makes it difficult to recognize an incipient bacterial infection.

At the first sign of a cold, it is useless and harmful to take any antibiotics.

At the first symptoms of a cold in children

In order to know what to give your child for a cold, you need to understand the specifics of the development of the viral process in children:

1. The first symptoms that parents see are far from the first:

• Cough;
• runny nose;

All these symptoms indicate significant “success” of the virus. Possibly a bacterial infection.

1. The signs of a cold in children are always as pronounced as possible, and the dynamics of the disease are sharp.

Treatment at the first sign of a cold in a child begins, as in adults, with antiviral immunostimulating drugs.

The sharp dynamics of the course of the disease requires careful monitoring of the child’s condition. Within a few hours, your health may deteriorate significantly, and bacterial infection cause complications such as, or.

If the condition continues to deteriorate and the temperature does not fall, it is necessary to immediately start: Amoxicillin, Augmentin or one of their analogues.

What else to do at the first sign of a cold

1. Rinse your nose using a special otolaryngological device.

Since viruses settle in the nasopharynx, rinsing with salt water helps mechanical removal them with the mucous membrane. If the nose “does not breathe,” vasodilating drops (Sanorin, Tizin, etc.) are instilled before rinsing, and then rinsing is done.

1. Use antiseptic drops or sprays.

After rinsing, Pinosol is instilled or sprayed into the nose (optional). Sprays can also be sprayed into the throat.

1. If you have a cold without fever, warming your feet has a positive effect.

It is best to soak in hot water overnight. Then put on warm socks and go to bed.

1. Drink hot tea with honey.

At the first symptoms of a cold, you need to drink more fluids. Adding honey has a positive effect on immunity and well-being.

What mistakes when treating a cold can lead to complications are explained in the video

Colds interfere with our usual routine both in winter and summer. Is it possible to cure a cold in a day? How not to miss the moment and what exactly should be done to cope with unpleasant condition? Under what conditions will the virus give up within 24 hours?

A cold begins gradually, and its first signs are as follows: viruses entering through the nose cause a runny nose and a desire to sneeze; sore throat; weakness in the body; the temperature rises slowly. Having recognized the first signs in time, do not expect that the disease will recede on its own: if you do not treat it, the condition will worsen in a day or two; if you deal a complex blow, you will be healthy again in 24 hours.

How to treat a cold: powders, medicines, teas

You shouldn’t suffer a cold “on your feet” - it’s best if you spend these days at home, thereby giving your body the opportunity good rest And quality treatment. Do not rush to bring down the temperature - a temperature of up to 38 degrees (and at the beginning of the disease it fluctuates between 37.2 - 38 degrees) means that the immune system is actively working to help the body cope with the virus. Let it work without interference and, and you help it in the following way.

More vitamin C!

• Teraflu
• Coldrex
• Fervex
• Pharmacitron
• Nimesil
• Antigrippin

Tea for colds

The simplest remedy for colds is this. If you feel that your body is about to send you on sick leave, do not immediately grab pills and powders, it is better to prepare some tasty healing drink. By the way, some of them will perfectly warm you up on a cool winter evening:

• Tea with honey and lemon
• Raspberry tea contains vitamins such as C, A, B, PP ( nicotinic acid)
• Ginger tea, is a useful antioxidant
• Decoction chamomile for children

Runny nose

They say that if you treat a runny nose, it will go away in 7 days, and if you don’t treat it, then in a week. A fundamentally incorrect statement. Microbes enter the body through the nose and if you do not pay due attention to removing them from there, the disease will not only not recede, but will quickly move into the next phase.

Your task is to regularly: herbal, salt, etc.

Let's move on to the throat

An unpleasant sore throat is one of the first symptoms of the disease. If you ignore this feeling, a cough will soon appear, and then bronchitis or other complications will not be far away.

Very effective, affordable, and most importantly, do not cause any discomfort rinsing. If in home medicine cabinet there is furatsilin - good, if there is no - no problem: brew chamomile or make an iodine-salt solution, dissolving it in a glass of warm boiled water a teaspoon of salt and adding three to four drops of iodine. Do the procedure every hour and a half.

How to gargle for a cold

Is important and in an effective way prevention of any cold or flu. For a sore throat, gargling helps aqueous solution with agents that promote healing and cleansing of the throat mucosa. This solution helps relieve swelling, disinfects, cleanses the surface of the throat mucosa from accumulated mucous formations, and heals. Auxiliary means:

• Salt water quickly reduces swelling in the mucous membrane of the throat and removes painful sensations
• Herbal decoctions reduce pain and have an antibiotic effect
• Infusion onion peel, reduces pain and helps with laryngitis and sore throat
• Red beet juice cleanses the mucous membranes of bacteria.
• Furacilin works as an antiseptic drug and allows you to stop the proliferation of bacteria in the cavity

What and how to do inhalations

They help thin thick mucus or have a calming effect on the inflamed mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract and ENT organs. Many Ukrainians practice inhalation over a pot of potatoes, but you can add some variety to the procedure familiar from childhood by brewing eucalyptus, sage, chamomile or oak bark. Borjomi solution helps a lot and grape juice Moreover, it is not only effective, but also quite pleasant, which is important when treating the youngest patients, who are not always easy to persuade to undergo treatment.

Having prepared one of the solutions, lean over the container (this can be a special inhaler or a regular saucepan) and, covered with a towel, breathe. When carrying out the procedure, remember a simple, but very important rule: inhale through the nose - exhale only through the mouth. It will be good if you take 50 breaths. And one more thing: inhalation should not be scalding; at very high temperatures you can burn the mucous membrane. It is advisable to repeat the procedure every two to three hours.

But if you are a supporter traditional methods treatment and don’t want to bother with pots and potatoes, modern medicine We offer a fairly large selection of drugs that help ease the coughing up of sputum. * will help normalize sputum production and quickly return to the normal rhythm of life.

Thermal mode

Under no circumstances should you be cold; your feet especially need warmth. Let your home medicine cabinet always have mustard plasters and dry mustard in case of a cold. You can make a hot foot bath with mustard, or you can pour dry mustard into woolen socks and put them on to go to bed at night.

A very warm, but not hot bath (38-42 degrees), which should be taken before bed, will help you warm up. Remember that at a body temperature above 38 degrees, a hot bath is strictly contraindicated - it can be very harmful to the heart. After taking a bath, which should be taken for 30-40 minutes, quickly do all the above procedures (rinsing the nose, gargling, inhalation, mustard in socks) and go to bed in a warm bed. Since it is now very important not to lose heat, the bed can be pre-warmed with heating pads.

Sleep is health

Full-fledged night sleep after all the responsibly done " cold medicine» measures are a serious component of your treatment. For a person who wants to overcome a cold in a day, it is very important to have a good rest and sleep, which is why it is strictly contraindicated to heroically endure a cold on your feet.

Folk remedies for colds

The ingredients for this are found in almost every kitchen. Besides medicinal plants in the form of infusions and decoctions, they have a much gentler effect on the human body than tablets, practically do not accumulate in the body and do not cause allergic reactions. The simplest and most effective folk remedies for colds:

Honey, lemon, ginger is a medicinal mixture that will help you quickly come to your senses initial stages diseases. One tablespoon several times a day will invigorate your body and fill it with beneficial properties.

Raspberry jam- This is an excellent diaphoretic. And also in raspberries, as in other traditional cold remedies, a lot of vitamin C, which stimulates the immune system.

Formula milk- add honey, pepper, vanilla sugar, cinnamon and bay leaf. Bring to a boil and drink at night. Milk soothes an irritated throat and strengthens the immune system.

Mulled wine - good antiseptic, rich useful amino acids and vitamin C. Serve hot, drink better at night.

Garlic and onion- phytancides contained in onions and giving them pungent odor and taste, has antibacterial and antiviral properties.

As a rule, after hypothermia, we begin to feel treacherous chills and malaise, which indicates the development of a cold.

If you start the fight at the most rudimentary manifestations of the disease, you can minimize the risk of developing inflammatory processes and various kinds complications associated with ARVI.

Let's recognize the enemy by sight

The first symptoms of a cold are often similar to other, more serious and dangerous diseases, so it is very important to make sure that you really have a cold. In general, the first manifestations of the disease indicate the location of the cold pathology. For example, hoarseness indicates inflammation of the throat such as laryngitis, pain when swallowing and soreness indicates pharyngitis, a stuffy nose indicates the development of rhinitis.

If you begin to act in a timely and comprehensive manner during the period of the onset of a cold, then within a day the disease will recede completely, without developing further.

But there are also symptoms that are characteristic of the initial stage of all acute respiratory viral infections, and appear even before the development of the inflammatory process:

• increase in temperature;
• cold feet and palms;
• chills;
• drowsiness;
• body aches;
• headaches;
• general weakness;
• decreased activity;
• general malaise.

If you notice the occurrence of such symptoms, it is necessary to begin the first steps, since delaying treatment will lead to worsening general condition and can result in all sorts of complications.

What to do?

What are these necessary actions to prevent further development of a cold?

Getting into bed

It is strictly forbidden to suffer any diseases of a cold nature, which is called “on your feet”. Complete rest is extremely important for the body that has been attacked by a virus in order to accumulate strength to resist the infection. Bed rest for ARVI must be maintained for at least a couple of days.

What will the thermometer show?

If symptoms of an elevated temperature appear, this is a kind of reporting message from your body that the virus that has penetrated it has been recognized and an immune fight has begun against it. If you have an acute respiratory viral infection, you should not lower your temperature if it has not reached 38°C. This temperature is a strong aid to the body in the fight against viral infections. We do not recommend resorting to antipyretic “fizzy drinks”, since they promote kidney stone formation, and the symptoms of fever are eliminated by too much short term time.

Drink as much as possible

As soon as signs of an incipient cold infection appear, it is necessary to begin strict adherence drinking regime. At initial manifestations ARVI needs to drink more fluids. In the absence of thirst, you need to force yourself to drink through force. Rich drinks are preferred: tea with currants, lemon, raspberries, rosehip infusion, alkaline mineral water (Borjomi, Narzan, etc.). Utility mineral water difficult to overestimate, since viruses are very sensitive to alkali. All drinks consumed should be at room temperature or slightly warmer. But alcohol, contrary to popular opinion, is contraindicated for ARVI.

Diet food

As soon as signs of a cold appear, begin to follow the body’s taste preferences; it will choose the microelements it needs. But it is strongly recommended to avoid fatty, fried and heavy carbohydrate foods. For acute respiratory viral infections, light fruit and vegetable dishes are very useful.

Don't get too cold

When a patient has a cold, they should never be cold, and their feet especially need warmth. It is very useful to steam your feet in hot water, to which you can add mint or eucalyptus oil, various kinds herbal infusions etc. Similar foot baths eliminate symptoms, help relieve inflammation and improve general well-being. At the end of the foot bath, you need to wipe your feet dry, put on cotton socks and go to bed.

Take care of a change of underwear in advance, since after such baths the patient, as a rule, begins to sweat intensely.

Now that you've done everything necessary measures, your body will be able to withstand and defeat the symptoms of a cold. At this stage it is necessary to begin treatment.

Elimination of the first symptoms

So, what to do to avoid further spread of the virus throughout the body?

Eliminate fever and inflammation

First you need to eliminate febrile symptoms. This can be done using medications, and resorting to folk medicine. Among the safest antipyretic drugs, the leader, of course, is paracetamol. But it must be taken in cases where fever is manifested by a temperature exceeding 38 degrees.

Rubbing the patient’s body with a warm water-vinegar solution (1:1) or a mixture of vodka and water (1:1) is very effective in eliminating the signs of a cold. It is recommended to rub the elbow and knee bends, groin and armpits, and feet with similar compounds.

Among the folk remedies against infections are tea with sea buckthorn, raspberries or calendula. These are a kind of natural aspirins.

Further treatment of ARVI should be aimed at eliminating inflammatory processes. Interferon drugs like Amizon, Arbidol, Amiksin, etc. will help cope with this. These drugs increase the body’s immune forces, promoting the production of antibodies, but you should carefully consider the contraindications specified in the instructions attached to them.

The safest anti-inflammatory agent effective against colds is honey. This beekeeping product is considered an excellent diaphoretic and antimicrobial agent. Experts especially highlight linden honey, which quickly eliminates the first manifestations and prevents further development. infectious process. No less strong remedy – mustard powder. It is recommended to pour it into cotton socks and leave them overnight. Sometimes (in the absence of fever and pathologies cardiovascular system) mustard is added to foot baths, due to which their warming effect is significantly prolonged.

We eliminate respiratory tract lesions

Usually, when a cold begins, the patient begins to be bothered by a characteristic sore throat. If you leave this sign unattended, complications such as a cough may arise, and then bronchitis, pneumonia, etc. Therefore, you need to take a number of measures aimed at eliminating the sore throat. The most by simple means are sucking lollipops containing antiseptic additives (, Efizol, etc.), gargling with furatsilin or a water-salt solution with the addition of soda and iodine. Rubbing the interscapular and chest area with menthol balm or vodka is a good way to relieve soreness during ARVI, and you can stick a pepper patch on your neck.

Since viruses enter the body, as a rule, through the nose, the onset of a cold is often accompanied by a stuffy or runny nose. To get rid of similar manifestations It is recommended to instill vasoconstrictor drugs like Farmazolin or Naphthyzin into the nasal passages.

Among folk remedies, aloe juice, beetroot, garlic or onion juice, which is recommended to be mixed with linden honey to enhance the effect, are good for eliminating inflammation from the nasal mucous membranes.

No less effective are rinsing the nasal cavity with saline, Aquamaris or Marimer, saline or herbal solutions. You can apply a freshly boiled egg or bags of calcined salt to the bridge of your nose. Such warming will relieve inflammation from the nasal mucosa. You can lubricate the bridge of your nose with a warming ointment like “Star”.

Rescue inhalations

Very good therapeutic effect inhalations have an antiviral effect on the body when ARVI is just beginning to develop in the body. You can perform inhalation procedures with essential oils such as eucalyptus or mint, or with herbal infusions sage, eucalyptus or chamomile. And grandfather’s method of treating colds with boiled potatoes is probably known to everyone.

Helping the immune system

In order for the body to have enough strength to resist a cold, it is necessary to take immediate measures to strengthen immune defense. To begin with, it is recommended to drink lemon tea and take a pill ascorbic acid. It is also useful to prepare strong chicken broth, which also helps strengthen the immune system and helps eliminate the manifestations of infection.

That, in fact, is all that needs to be done to cope with the beginning viral infection. But to achieve a clear effect, such measures must be comprehensive, then the next morning you will feel a significant improvement in your condition, even recovery (if the procedures were completed in a timely manner).

Based on materials from the newspaper “Vestnik “ZOZH””

What to do at the first signs of a cold, how to stop the disease? From a conversation with a doctor.

To stop the disease as soon as you feel the first signs of a cold:
1. Start taking it right away tea from linden flowers or from dried fruits and/or raspberry leaves. 1 tbsp. l. per glass of boiling water. Drink a glass of tea 4-5 times a day.
2. Get started right away rinse mouth and throat with infusion of calendula, chamomile, St. John's wort, eucalyptus, sage, eucalyptus flowers. Plants can be used individually or together.
3. Very effective cold inhalations with garlic, horseradish, onions - chop the plants, put them in a jar, close the lid tightly, inhale 5-6 times through the nose and mouth, holding the exhalation, do the procedure every 30-60 minutes.
4. Hot inhalations. Inhalations with essential oils are also effective: add 2-3 drops to 100 ml of boiling water. tea tree or eucalyptus. Steam inhalations are made with potatoes, decoction pine buds, and infusion of plants from point 1.
5. Local procedures : hot foot baths with mustard or mustard plasters on the feet - do at night, then sleep in warm socks.
6. Propolis– chew a piece of propolis at night until a burning sensation and slight numbness appear in your mouth.
7. Lemon. Chew lemon with zest, drink tea with lemon, gargle with it.
(HLS 2014, No. 15 p. 22-23).

The first symptoms of a cold - use ginger tea.
Initial stage colds– this stage of cold chills. There is no runny nose, cough, or fever yet, but the person feels unwell and chills. It’s too early to drink diaphoretic teas with raspberries and honey, but tea with ginger (powder or fresh root) will be just right here. Tea with red pepper will also help. You can also add aconite tincture to tea, but no more than 3 drops, and no more than three glasses of this tea with aconite per day, because it is poisonous.
These remedies accelerate the blood well, and it is often possible to stop a cold in its tracks. early stages and prevent further development of the disease.

If the temperature has already risen, then proven remedies are suitable: raspberry, eucalyptus, chamomile, linden. Very effective against influenza virus fresh juice Antonov apples, viburnum berries in all types. (HLS 2006, No. 21 p. 12).

If you are very cold and are afraid of getting sick.
In case of severe hypothermia, this remedy will help: add 1-2 teaspoons of honey, 2 tbsp. l. vodka and 0.5 aspirin tablets. During this healing tea party, we warm our feet in hot water with the addition of salt, soda and mustard powder. After that, go to bed to warm up. (HLS 2007, No. 23 p. 32).

Honey with vodka
As soon as you feel the first signs of a cold: sore throat, nasal congestion, prepare the following mixture for the night: stir 50 g of alcohol or vodka with 1 tsp. honey, add hot boiled water to 100 ml and drink. Go to bed, well covered, to sweat. In the morning you will wake up without any traces of illness. (HLS 2003, No. 14 p. 11).

As soon as you feel the first symptoms of a cold, you need to grate 2-3 cloves of garlic, Apply the mixture to a piece of gauze or cotton pad and place it on the bottom of the teapot. Close the kettle with a lid, inhale garlic vapor through your mouth through the spout, and exhale through your nose. (HLS 2014, No. 4 p. 40).

An even more effective folk remedy for an incipient cold: Peel the head of garlic, cut each clove, and place in a bowl. Sit on the bed, cover yourself with a sheet, crush garlic and breathe at the same time. Children 5-7 minutes, adults 7-10 minutes. After this, pour boiled water at room temperature into the crushed garlic, stir, strain. Rinse your mouth with this water 2-3 times and your throat at least once. Even if the patient had a temperature of 40 degrees, after garlic inhalation she immediately falls. 3-4 such inhalations, and the person is completely healthy. (HLS 2010, No. 13 p. 27).

You can cover your head grate garlic or onion, breathe healing air for 20-30 minutes. Relief comes after the first session. (HLS 2005, No. 21, p. 24)

Chew the onion quickly and take a deep breath with your mouth so that the air passes through the onion mass. (2003, no. 22, p. 25)

As soon as the cold started, the woman takes a handful of onion peels, puts them in a dry frying pan and heats them over low heat. When smoke begins to come from the husk, one breathes over it through the nose and mouth alternately - the disease passes without even starting. (HLS 2014, No. 6 p. 38, 2000, No. 9, p. 18-19).

The man does garlic tincture: Finely chop the garlic, pour vodka in a small bottle. At the first sign of a cold, he inhales alternately from one nostril to the other. (2012, no. 22 p. 38-39).

As soon as your nose itches, you need to take a garlic stick from the middle of the head and set it on fire and extinguish it, smoke will come out. Inhale this smoke for 2-3 minutes. This smoke kills all harmful microbes that accumulate in the nasopharynx. (HLS 2012, No. 23 p. 30).

Tar vapors.
Tar vapors act similarly. Tar can be bought at a pharmacy; it kills all kinds of germs.
The woman caught a cold and felt a sore throat. On my son's advice, I took 1 tsp. honey, dropped a drop of tar into it, put it under the tongue and sucked it off before going to bed. I also breathed several times during the evening over a cotton swab dipped in tar (I kept it in a disposable container). In the morning I woke up completely healthy - I managed to stop the cold in the early stages. (HLS 2014, No. 9 p. 33).

Echinacea tincture
What to do if you have the first signs of a cold - an itchy nose, a sore throat? Immediately begin emergency home measures:
Every 2 hours take:
1) 30-50 drops of echinacea extract.
2) 500 mg of vitamin C
3) 1 garlic tablet or fresh garlic.

Eat chicken broth 3-4 times a day, it helps remove toxins from the body that are formed after the death of viruses under the influence of the immune system. All these measures help not to get sick. (2000, No. 18 p. 7).

Sunflower oil.
A woman by virtue of her chronic diseases lives permanently with open windows(there is not enough oxygen in the blood), there is a draft in the apartment, I often caught colds until I found my remedy. And now he has been living without illness for 6 years. This sunflower oil, it has a good warming effect. As soon as it gets stuck in your throat, take a tablespoon, heat it over the fire of a gas burner and pour sunflower oil into it. Drink this oil from a spoon in small sips, 4-5 sips. If the soreness continues, drink another spoonful, but usually the first spoonful is enough. The main thing is to start treatment immediately.
Once this woman was very cold at the bus stop, her throat became sore, and she started coughing. I came home and drank 1 spoon of oil. Then I drank 1 mug of hot tea, and again 1 tbsp. l. oils After 20 minutes I had dinner, eating 2 cloves of garlic at dinner, then warmed my hands on the radiator. In the morning I woke up healthy. (HLS 2000, No. 18 p. 13.

Hunting tool
As soon as you feel unwell, you need to pour 1 tbsp into an iron mug or cup. l. granulated sugar, put on the fire or stove, heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar turns into brown caramel. Remove from heat, add 100 g of vodka to the burnt sugar, stir until all the sugar has dissolved. The vodka should remain hot enough, but not scalding. This remedy should be drunk in one gulp, in 2-3 sips (the 4th sip will be almost impossible to drink, because the taste is quite disgusting). After this, immediately go to bed and try to fall asleep immediately. In the morning you will wake up wet from sweat, but healthy

Clove tincture.
If the first signs of a cold appear: headache, sore throat, weakness, pain in the eyes, the woman drinks 1 tsp. tincture of cloves, lubricates the calves and soles of the feet with iodine, and lubricates the skin between the fingers and toes with “Star” balm, and puts woolen socks on the feet. In the morning he gets up healthy. The main thing is to catch the disease at the very beginning and begin to treat it.
How to prepare clove tincture.
This tincture should always be on hand. Take 10 packs of cloves, pour into a dark bottle, pour vodka 3-5 cm above the level of the cloves. Leave for at least 5 days, preferably at least 21 days. Do not strain. This portion will last the reader’s family and friends for a long time. When the tincture is half finished, add vodka to the previous level. (HLS 2014, No. 5 p. 31).

What to do at the first sign of a sore throat.
As soon as you feel a sore throat and a sore throat, you need to apply a compress with lard and mustard to your throat. Cut a thin piece of lard (preferably not salted; if it is salty, wash off the salt), but a sufficiently large area (or take several pieces). Rub this piece on your throat so that there is no burn. Place mustard on the lard (take dry mustard powder and dilute in water until sour cream thickens). Apply this sandwich with mustard to the skin on the throat and tonsils, cover with plastic and secure with a scarf. Keep the compress for 15-20 minutes, do this 3 times during the day, after each compress drink hot milk with honey and soda. butter. (HLS 2014, No. 6 p. 39).

As soon as the illness associated with a cold begins, the woman takes 5-6 figs and simmer over low heat in a glass of milk for about 30 minutes, until the milk becomes pink color. Drinks before bed - a lot effective remedy. (HLS 2013, No. 11 p. 33).

Raspberry tincture.
At the first sign of a cold, the woman takes her medicine out of the refrigerator. Adds 1 tbsp. l. of this medicine in a glass of tea + 1 tsp. honey And in the morning I’m already healthy!
The medicine does this: pour 1 liter of raspberries with 0.5 liter of vodka. Store in the refrigerator. (HLS 2012, No. 19 p. 33).

Vitamin drink
A newspaper reader, as soon as she feels the first signs of a cold, makes a drink. Add 1 tbsp to 1.5 liters of boiled water. l. (without a slide) coarse salt, 1 g ascorbic acid, juice of 1 lemon. He stirs everything and drinks it within an hour and a half before bed. In the morning she wakes up healthy and cheerful. (HLS 2012, No. 20 p. 39).

At the first symptoms of a cold, you should eat whole lemon with peel. You can eat it with sugar or honey. (HLS 2008, No. 11 p. 33).
Lemon will help in another form. You need to squeeze the juice from a whole lemon. Add this juice to hot tea, also add 1-2 tsp to the tea. honey This folk remedy will help stop a cold if you take it immediately at the first signs of illness, you need to do it on time (2004, No. 21 p. 9).

Citric acid.
Dr. Naumov D.V. believes that, on the contrary, lemon should not be taken if you have a cold. Lemon juice has an alkaline reaction, and when you have a cold, the body needs to be acidified. For 1 liter of water you need to add 1/3 tsp. citric acid and 3-4 tbsp. l. raspberry or currant jam. This drink is drunk 1-2 liters per day, 5-7 days. In addition, I take ascorutin (a mixture of vitamins C and P) 2 tablets 3 times a day – 5 days. And moisturize the whole body with 3% vinegar. If there is no temperature, then the vinegar is heated to 40 degrees so that it is absorbed into the skin faster. When the patient has a fever, wipe the patient with cold vinegar. If there is not enough acid in the body, then immunity decreases, and rubbing with vinegar will help restore acidity and immunity. (2004, No. 23 p. 6-7).

Inhalation with Vietnamese balm"Star"
Recipe for treating colds initial stages until the temperature rose above 37.2 degrees.
Boil 1 liter of water in an enamel bowl, throw in 1 tbsp. l. dry mint, 1 tbsp. l. salt, 1 tsp. soda and a pea-sized piece of Zvezdochka balm. Breathe over the steam, covering your head with a blanket for 15 minutes. Keep your eyes closed. Do the procedures immediately before bedtime. (2008, No. 16 p. 33).

At the first sign of a cold, it will be useful to make salty hot bath(per bath 0.5 kg of salt, better than sea), temperature – 37-39 degrees, duration approximately 20 minutes. After the bath, pat your skin with a towel and immediately go to bed, covering yourself warmly. (2014, no. 3 p. 31).

The cold season and the off-season is the time of colds, or, as they say medical workers, acute respiratory viral infections. Most often manifest as acute inflammatory processes– pharyngitis, rhinitis, tracheobronchitis. All these diseases have a viral etiology, so they are always accompanied by an increase in body temperature and general intoxication of the body.

Few people know what can and should be done when the first signs of a cold appear, what measures will make it easier to endure an acute respiratory viral infection and shorten the duration of the disease.

If we highlight the symptoms of an incipient cold in adults, we can identify a sore throat, itchy nose, sneezing, and a rare dry cough. Very quickly, with the development of an acute respiratory viral infection, nasal congestion, runny nose and lacrimation appear. Literally after a few hours, the patient begins to experience headaches, general weakness, a feeling of fatigue, pain in the joints and muscles (legs or arms “twist”).

Please note:extremely rare, but doctors record the first sign of a cold in adults high temperature bodies. As a rule, such a manifestation characterizes the development or infectious disease internal organs and systems, but there are exceptions.

But in children, the first signs of a cold are somewhat different - fever and vomiting will be noted. The child refuses food (even his favorite foods), becomes lethargic, and goes to bed. Only after this does he develop a cough, runny nose and sneezing.

Please note:V childhood a sudden rise in temperature may be accompanied by convulsive syndrome. In such cases, you should immediately call an ambulance.

What to take at the first sign of a cold in adults

If you take certain measures in time, the cold will not develop into a long-lasting one. long-term illness, and the patient’s condition will be relatively stabilized. What doctors recommend doing:

1. The first signs of a cold are a reason to stay at home (if possible), but if there is an increase in body temperature, then the regime should be bed rest. It is necessary to wear a gauze mask when the symptoms in question appear - this will prevent infection of others. If a disposable mask is used, then it must be changed every 3 hours, but if the patient uses a reusable medical mask, then it must be ironed with a hot iron on both sides every 3 hours.
2. The patient needs to be provided drinking plenty of fluids– this can be a decoction of rose hips, tea with raspberry jam or viburnum, decoction linden color, green tea. You cannot drink coffee, strong black tea or hot chocolate. Milk with honey will also be useful, but it cannot be considered a liquid, therefore, in addition to milk, the patient should drink other specified drinks.
3. It is extremely necessary to adjust your diet - a sick person is unlikely to have a healthy appetite. The body needs support, so it is advisable to give the patient chicken broth, fermented milk products, vegetables and fruits. This diet will prevent work disorder digestive system– constipation or diarrhea is often observed against the background of a developing cold.
4. At least 4-5 times a day, it is necessary to carry out the procedure of rinsing the nose with saline solution, even if the patient does not have a runny nose or congestion. Can be purchased at a pharmacy ready-made products for this procedure - Salin, Aquamaris and others, but there is always the opportunity to prepare saline solution and on your own: you need 1 teaspoon table salt dissolve in 700-1000 ml warm water, add 2-3 drops of iodine.
5. Gargle with the solution every 3-4 hours baking soda(1 teaspoon per 500 ml of warm water), furatsilin, decoction of chamomile, sage.

Please note:rinsing the nose and gargling help mechanically cleanse the mucous membranes of viral particles, provide additional hydration of the membranes and improve blood circulation. All this together has a mild anti-inflammatory effect.

1. Steam inhalations will help to quickly “strangle” a cough and clear the nasal passages of accumulated mucus. For this procedure, you can use essential oils of eucalyptus, tea tree and coniferous plants. You can also use boiled potatoes “in their jackets” - my grandmother’s method of steam inhalation is still effective at the first signs of a cold.
2. Every 2 hours you need to instill 5 drops of a leukocyte solution into each nostril; you can use Derinat drops instead. The only caveat is that such instillations must be carried out after rinsing the nose with saline solution.

Please note:if there is no suspicion of , there is only slight congestion, then you can instill beetroot + garlic juice (the two components are mixed in equal proportions) - this will prevent the development of rhinitis. You can warm up your nose boiled egg(it should be hot, cleaned - simply rolled along the bridge of the nose and the area where maxillary sinuses) or canvas bags with heated salt.

1. Some doctors recommend the drug “Kagocel” at the first signs of ARVI; these tablets should be taken according to the following scheme:

• when signs appear, 1 tablet;
• in the evening of the same day, 1 more tablet (or the next morning, if symptoms appeared in the evening);
• on the second day you need to take 1 tablet every 12 hours;
• two next days– 1 tablet 1 time per day.

Please note: in the USA and Western Europe this drug not registered, it is not on the WHO list of medicines. According to representatives of the Formulary Committee of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences and SDDM, the effectiveness of Kagocel has not been proven

1. In the evening you need to take warm bath with the addition of coniferous plant extract (or essential oils) for 15 minutes, rub your body well with a towel, go to bed and drink a cup of hot tea with raspberry jam.
2. You need to make a hot foot bath with mustard - you can use powder, or you can just put 2-3 mustard plasters in 2 liters hot water. The legs usually soar for 15-20 minutes, and as the water cools, add boiling water. Then they wipe their feet dry, put warm socks on them and go to bed.

Please note: a bath with coniferous plant extract and a hot foot bath will be beneficial only in the absence of hyperthermia. Even a slight increase in body temperature is a contraindication to any warming procedures.

If the cold develops rapidly, the symptoms become more intense literally every hour, then you need to take any combination remedy that will provide symptomatic treatment– for example, it could be Fervex or Coldrex. Self-massage also gives a good effect biologically. active points– experts recommend massaging the reflex points on the hand (where the large and index fingers), on the “wings” of the nose (you can feel them with your fingers - there will be “pits”), on the inner corners of the eyebrows.

You should know that many medicinal plants that are recommended at the first signs of a cold can trigger the development of a powerful allergic reaction. Therefore, if any means have not been used before, you need to make sure that the body perceives the substances normally. Otherwise, an allergy due to a cold can be so severe that you will need medical help and hospitalization.

The first signs of a cold in children - what to take

In principle, the same measures can be taken for a sick child as for adults. But due to the fact that in childhood the first sign of a cold is an increase in body temperature, it is strictly contraindicated to warm baths, hot foot baths and steam inhalations. But you can do the following:

Please note:almost everything combination drugs for the treatment of colds early stages development are contraindicated in childhood. For example, Kagocel should not be given to children under 3 years of age, but Ergoferon can be used from 6 months, and Derinat drops from birth. It is best to call a pediatrician at home.

If a child has the first signs of a cold, but remains moderately active, then there is no need to immediately “stuff” him with medications. It is worth giving preference to tea with raspberries, rosehip decoction, milk with honey, and linden blossom tea. If a cough begins, you can irrigate oral cavity a decoction of chamomile or sage - part of the product will still get into the throat and “wash away” the viral particles.

Please note:Under no circumstances should you rub the baby's chest and back with fat (this is considered good folk remedy when coughing), if available elevated temperature or there were similar “jumps” during the day. Blockage of skin pores with fat can cause seizures.

The first signs of a cold in pregnant women - what to do

If a woman is carrying a child, then if she has a cold, hot foot baths and baths in general are strictly contraindicated - this will most likely provoke a premature termination of pregnancy. Apart from this, no medicines Pregnant women should also not take it without the consent of a gynecologist - even the usual antipyretic and immunostrengthening drugs can pose a danger to the fetus.

It would be most reasonable to comply bed rest, drink plenty of fluids, conduct aromatherapy with oils of coniferous plants and eucalyptus. Any other appointments must be made by a specialist.

Almost everyone feels the first signs of a cold. You shouldn’t hope that “it will go away on its own”, “I’ll be like a cucumber in the morning” - the result of such a careless attitude will be long-term illness, which can also occur with complications. It is much easier to immediately take the measures indicated in this article - this will make mild cold, short-term and without possible complications.

Tsygankova Yana Aleksandrovna, medical observer, therapist of the highest qualification category