Influenza, peaks every 3 years
The virus is "insidious," and it likes to be associated with haze. The arrival of haze can be considered a time for rampant viruses. A large amount of impurities such as dust, smoke particles, and salt powder float in the air to form haze. When its chemical smoke concentration reaches a certain level, it will harm people's eyes and respiratory tract. Many viruses in the air love to collude with haze, invading people's health, with the most harm being to the respiratory system. Haze days lead to the proliferation of viruses. The number of viruses and routes of infection are not just through the respiratory system; the digestive, circulatory, and even nervous systems can also become gathering places for viruses. Once the disease develops, it is extremely dangerous.
The virus is "cunning." It is a life form that is extremely small in size and has a very simple structure. It has a high degree of parasitism. In in vitro conditions, it can exist as a lifeless biological macromolecule and maintain its infectivity for a long time.
The main pathogens causing the common cold are rhinoviruses, followed by parainfluenza viruses, adenoviruses, Egyptian viruses, Coxsackie viruses, and respiratory syncytial virus, often complicated by bacterial infections. The common cold has a sudden onset, with early symptoms such as a dry or burning sensation in the throat, sneezing, nasal congestion, and runny nose. The nasal discharge is initially clear and watery, becoming thick after 2-3 days. It can be accompanied by a sore throat. Generally, there is no fever or systemic symptoms, or only low-grade fever and headache. It usually resolves in 5-7 days. Influenza (the flu) is an acute respiratory infectious disease caused by the influenza virus. The pathogens are types A, B, and C influenza viruses, mainly transmitted by droplets. Clinically, it presents with a sudden onset of high fever, fatigue, body aches, obvious conjunctivitis, and mild respiratory symptoms. The elderly and those with chronic respiratory diseases or heart disease are prone to developing pneumonia. Due to the high variability of the influenza virus, especially type A, it often causes epidemics or pandemics. It generally has a peak every 3 years, with a large number of cases and severe systemic symptoms, affecting health and work capacity.
The cold most easily invades four types of people
First, picky eaters: They lack Vitamin C and Vitamin A in their bodies. When Vitamin C is deficient, the ability of white blood cells and lymphocytes to kill bacteria and viruses is relatively weak. When Vitamin A is deficient, lymphocytes cannot produce immunoglobulins, and the ability of white blood cells to phagocytose bacteria is significantly reduced. The renewal pattern of red blood cells is also inhibited. Under the invasion of viruses and bacteria, the function of the respiratory mucosa barrier is weakened, making it easy to catch a cold.
Second, those who like to dress lightly: Many young people like to wear thin clothes even in the middle of winter. When stimulated by cold, skin blood vessels constrict, blood flow decreases, and this reflexively causes capillaries in the upper respiratory tract mucosa, such as the nasopharynx and trachea, to constrict. The ciliary movement weakens, leading to a decrease in local resistance, allowing bacteria and viruses to take advantage of the opportunity and making people prone to colds.
Third, the sedentary: Many office workers work indoors for long periods, year after year, stuck at the computer and not liking to exercise. After work, they also stay at home and remain inactive. This leads to a relatively weak body and low resistance.
Fourth, those who are mentally stressed: Some people are more sensitive. When they see a hazy day, they think they are going to catch a cold. When they hear others cough, their own throat feels uncomfortable. People who are often in a state of tension will have a significant decrease in the secretion of antiviral substances like interferon and nuclease in the nasopharynx, and their immune function will also decline, making them prone to colds.
5 prescriptions for you to choose from
Dietary prescription: In the early stages of a cold, it is advisable to eat light foods that promote sweating. You can drink ginger and brown sugar tea to induce sweating; you can also drink red date and ginger soup to enhance resistance. You can also cook a porridge with an appropriate amount of scallion whites and rice, and then cover up with a blanket to sweat. When you have a fever and sweat a lot, you must replenish fluids. Depending on the patient's preference, you can drink cool boiled water or tea. At the same time, drink more fruit juice to supplement Vitamin C. Patients should eat lotus root starch, milk, congee, rice soup, fresh vegetables, and fruits. Greasy food stays in the stomach for a long time and is difficult to digest, so it is best not to eat it before appetite returns.
Exercise prescription: Engaging in physical activity during a cold is harmful rather than beneficial. A cold is an acute upper respiratory infectious disease caused by viruses. To resist invading viruses, the body mobilizes beneficial factors, such as an increase in white blood cells, enhanced phagocytic activity, increased liver detoxification, and accelerated metabolism to improve the body's ability to fight disease. At the same time, it also consumes a large amount of nutrients such as sugar, fat, and protein. Although we advocate "not leaving the front line even with minor injuries," after catching a cold, it is best to rest to recuperate. It is recommended to suspend physical exercises and military training with high intensity, as strenuous exercise can accelerate metabolism, raise body temperature, lead to dysfunction of the body's regulatory system, over-excitement of the central nervous system, a decrease in resistance, and worsen the condition.
Nasal wash prescription: Hazy days have become a breeding ground for viruses. Smoking can irritate the upper respiratory tract mucosa, thereby exacerbating the inflammatory response and worsening the condition, prolonging the course of the disease. Smoke contains a chemical component that can change the concentration of nasal mucus, promoting the entry of viruses into the human respiratory system, thus expanding the scope of the lesion. Smoke toxins can slow down the ciliary movement of the nasal mucosa, making it difficult for the nasal passages to block the invasion of bacteria, viruses, and dust. Smoke inhaled into the body can reduce the activity of white blood cells, preventing them from effectively killing invading viruses and inhibiting their vitality. You can also wash your nose with cold water and saltwater; the former can increase the nose's resistance to the outside world, while the latter has a bactericidal effect and provides suitable humidity and temperature for the nose.
Lifestyle prescription: Do not wear contact lenses, and avoid karaoke. Cold patients often have a large number of germs on their hands, which can easily enter the eyes when putting in or taking out contact lenses. In addition, colds are often accompanied by mild eye inflammation, and wearing contact lenses can worsen the inflammation. Many cold, cough, and pain relievers contain ingredients that inhibit tear production, which can reduce tear secretion, making contact lenses too dry and transparent, thus affecting vision.
A new study in Singapore has found that singing, whistling, and laughing may spread cold and flu viruses. Generally, it is relatively safe to keep a distance of 1 meter from a flu patient. However, activities like singing, whistling, and laughing can accelerate air flow, increasing the speed of flu virus transmission and raising the risk of infection for people nearby. Moreover, karaoke booths are generally enclosed with poor air circulation, and sharing a microphone can easily lead to cross-infection. In addition, for the flu patient themselves, after catching a cold, the respiratory mucosa will be inflamed and congested. Singing involves constant opening and closing of the respiratory tract, which can aggravate various symptoms. After a few hours, the body will also be quite tired, which is not conducive to recovery.
Air prescription: On hazy days, you cannot but open the windows, nor can you open them blindly, because you might end up contacting more polluted air. It is best to open the windows for 15 to 30 minutes when the sun is strongest at noon. In winter, the room is relatively dry, so you can use an air humidifier to increase the humidity. You can also fill a washbasin with half a basin of water, add an appropriate amount of white vinegar, soak a towel in it, wring it out, and then wave it in the room to quickly and effectively purify the indoor air.