Doctors say the old belief that you have to feed when you have a cold and starve when you have a fever is nonsense.
People battling seasonal respiratory viruses, regardless of symptoms, need proper nutrition, according to recommendations from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.
Fever is just one of many defense mechanisms the body uses to avoid any infection, said Dr. Pedro Piedra, professor of molecular virology, microbiology and pediatrics at Baylor University.
All of the body’s immune responses require energy from a balanced diet, Piedra said. This is why disease-friendly foods like chicken noodle soup are often recommended.
Feeling sick from the infection may affect a person’s appetite, but Piedra said people should resist the discomfort and reach for a spoon or fork.
Cold weather tends to increase people’s risk of contracting the flu, common cold and COVID-19, Piedra said.
That’s because when it’s cold outside, people tend to huddle indoors.
“Colder temperatures also allow viruses to survive longer on surfaces, and Houston’s humidity also helps these viruses survive outside their hosts,” Piedra added during a Baylor news conference.
“There is also a theory that you will get sick if your hair is wet and exposed to cold conditions. This is true to a certain extent,” Piedra added. “You won’t get the virus, but you will weaken your immune system, which can lead to illness.”
In addition to eating enough, patients should make sure to stay hydrated, Piedra said.
Hot tea is a great treatment that not only helps hydrationwhile also alleviating sore throat.
he sore throat It can also be treated by gargling with warm salt water, which can relieve irritation and clear excess mucus from the back of the throat.
Piedra also recommends that people who have just been sick get tested for the flu or the flu Coronavirus If the result is positive, ask your doctor about medications that may shorten the illness.
“this antiviral drugs “These drugs can be prescribed by a doctor to relieve symptoms of various viruses, including the flu and SARS-CoV-2, but must be taken early in the infection to be effective,” Piedra said. “If you catch a cold, influenza anyone Coronavirus Contact your doctor if your condition progresses and you start to have trouble breathing, or if you move and feel uncomfortable, as this may be a sign that your condition is getting worse. “
as usual, Prevention is the best treatmentPiedra added.
Flu vaccine, Coronavirus and virtual reality system They can help prevent respiratory infections, and people can minimize their risk by wearing masks and monitoring their hands regularly, Piedra said.
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