Flu Season: What to Avoid
Commonly overlooked precautions include:
Frequent consumption of fried foods: This can cause throat congestion, increase surface wounds on the mucous membranes, and raise the risk of infection.
Keeping windows closed for warmth: Closing windows obstructs air circulation, causing indoor air to become stale and microbial content to rise, which is more detrimental to the respiratory system.
Additionally, there are many other points to note:
Never assume you're cured just because medication has alleviated symptoms: Many people stop taking medication once their runny nose, headache, or fever subsides and return to work, assuming they are recovered. This is unwise because the cold has not truly run its course. Not resting properly is equivalent to weakening your own immune system.
Reduce intake of greasy foods: Oily substances like pork soup and chicken soup might not be an issue normally, but consuming them during a cold can cause the external illness to move deeper into the body, worsening the condition. Avoid sexual activity during illness: It consumes excessive energy and is not advisable.
Be cautious when bathing or washing your hair to avoid catching a chill: After a hot bath, blood vessels dilate and body temperature drops, making it easy to catch another chill. After washing your hair, avoid drafts or air conditioning, as wet hair makes the head susceptible to cold.
Dietary Restrictions
Influenza is an acute respiratory infectious disease caused by the influenza virus, characterized by strong infectivity and rapid onset. While it is generally easy to treat, infants and young children, having weaker constitutions and often improper diets, are highly susceptible to recurrent colds. Therefore, in addition to medication, dietary management is essential for treating a cold.
1. Avoid salty foods: Consuming salty foods can cause the mucous membranes in the affected area to contract, worsening symptoms like nasal congestion and a sore throat. Moreover, overly salty foods can increase phlegm production and stimulate the local area, leading to a more severe cough.
2. Avoid sweet and greasy foods: Sweetness can promote dampness, and greasy foods are difficult to digest. Therefore, cold sufferers should avoid all types of candies, beverages, and fatty meats.
3. Avoid pungent and hot foods: Pungent and hot foods can damage vital energy and fluids, generate heat and phlegm, and make phlegm harder to expel. Thus, cold sufferers should not eat these foods, especially in the case of scallions, which should be consumed in very small amounts.
4. Avoid grilled and fried foods: The aroma of these foods can irritate the respiratory and digestive tracts, causing mucous membranes to contract and worsening the condition. They are also difficult to digest.