Ailments and Situations - Common Cold - What to Expect |
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Page 3 of 6 What to Expect: A cold is rarely pleasant, with the above-mentioned symptoms and signs generally getting worse before they get better. Some people start with a sore throat and end with a stuffed up nose. Others find their symptoms go in reverse. Still others simply feel "under the weather" and do nothing but wait out their cold. Small comfort can be found in that all these symptoms are the result of your body's attempt to clear itself of the infection and toxins in the body. Mucus secretions contain dead organisms and nose and throat congestion is your body's attempt to block potential viral passages into the body. A fever is an elevation in body temperature and is a normal physiological response by the body to destroy microorganisms and eliminate toxins. Normal body temperature hovers around 37ºC. A fever occurs with a temperature of 37.8ºC or above (oral temperature). Although it may cause mild discomfort, both for the sufferer and caregiver, it is usually best to let a fever run its course as it is part of your body's defense mechanisms. For example, viruses cannot multiply at temperatures of 38ºC to 39ºC. There is also some evidence that suggests some of your body's other defense mechanisms are enhanced at slightly elevated body temperatures. High temperature must be watched closely. If you experience a temperature above 39ºC, contact your naturopath or other health practitioner. Excessively high temperatures require immediate medical attention. For more information, see the dedicated section on Fever. The duration of a cold directly depends on the strength of your immune system. If your system is constantly fighting off ingested/absorbed toxins, or you do not provide your body with the proper nutrients, your immune system may be weakened and cannot deal with a cold as effectively as possible. If you generally catch colds early (before others), get more than two colds per year, suffer from chronic infection, have frequent cold sores, have sore or swollen lymph glands, or have had or are currently dealing with cancer, your immune system may be weakened. Discuss this issue with your naturopath or other health practitioner. For more information, see the dedicated section on Weakened Immune System. With adequate rest and proper immune support, a cold should last only three to four days.
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