cure and avoid cold and flu without medicine and bad tasting grandma's soup for cold.

First thing first, identify

Is It a Cold or the Flu?

Overview

 Is it a cold or the seasonal flu? Symptoms can confuse you, so unless your doctor runs a rapid flu test. As soon as you start to get sick, it’s hard to know for sure. Here are some basic guidelines on how to tell the difference between cold and flu symptoms, and what to do if you have either one of these infections. 

What Is the Common Cold?

This seasonal respiratory infection is a leading cause of clinic’s visits and missed work or school days. While a cold generally resolves quickly, symptoms can last for up to 14 days if your immune is too week else for an average healthy person it is less and so on. However, unlike the flu, symptoms are generally mild and in most cases do not lead to any serious health complications.

The RHINOVIRUS is most often the one that makes people sneeze and sniffle, and it’s highly contagious. Other frequent cold-causing pathogens include coronaviruses and respiratory syncytial viruses. Most cold-causing viruses thrive in environments with low humidity, which may be why colds are more common during the fall and winter months. However, you can catch a cold any time of year. 

 You can get sick if you touch a surface (such as a countertop or doorknob) that has recently been handled by a cold-infected person, and then touch your nose, mouth, or eyes. To avoid thus one must be attentive while being with the infected person.

Cold Symptoms

If you have a cold, you’ll probably experience symptoms such as:

·         runny or stuffy nose

·         sore throat

·         sneezing

·         mild-to-moderate fever

·         cough

·         headache or body aches

·         mild tiredness

How to Treat a Cold

          Colds are contagious during the first 2-3 days, so stay home and rest up. Because this is a viral infection, antibiotics are not effective in treating a cold. However, over-the-counter medications (antihistamines, decongestants, acetaminophen, and non steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines) can relieve congestion, aches, and other cold symptoms. Drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration.

Some people take natural cold remedies, such as zinc, vitamin C, or Echinacea. These remedies can prevent or reduce the symptoms or length of a cold.

          Colds usually clear up within a few days. See a doctor if your cold hasn’t improved in about a week, or if you develop significant or persistent fevers. You could have allergies, or a bacterial infection (such as sinusitis or strep throat) that requires antibiotics. A nagging cough could also be a sign of asthma or bronchitis.

How to Prevent a Cold:

           “We can put a man on the moon, but we still can’t cure the common cold.” While it’s true that doctors haven’t yet identified a vaccine, there are ways to prevent this mild but annoying affliction.

       Avoidance

          Because colds spread so easily, the best prevention is avoidance. Stay away from anyone who is sick, and don’t share utensils or any other personal items such as mobile phones, money, toothbrush, towel or any item touched by that person. Sharing goes both ways — when you’re sick with a cold, stay home.

       Good Hygiene

          I hope everybody is very much aware of this habit and I must not right more on Personal hygiene. However if you have any question I would be happy to answers it. Keep your hands away from your nose, eyes, and mouth when they’re not freshly washed. Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, and always wash your hands afterward.

What Is the Seasonal Flu?

          Influenza — or the flu, as it’s better known — is another upper respiratory illness. Unlike the common cold, the flu can develop into a more serious condition such as pneumonia. This is especially true for young children, older adults, pregnant women, and people with immune compromising health conditions such as asthma, heart disease or diabetes. 

          Unlike the cold, which can hit at any time of year, the flu is generally seasonal. Flu season usually runs from fall to spring, peaking during the winter months. During flu season, you can catch the flu in the same way you’d pick up a cold: by coming into contact with droplets spread by an infected person.

The seasonal flu is caused by the influenza A, B, and C viruses. Active strains of influenza virus vary from year to year. That’s why a new flu vaccine is formulated and released each year.

Flu Symptoms

          Flu symptoms can be similar to those of a cold, although they tend to be more severe. Symptoms can include:

·         dry, hacking cough

·         moderate-to-high fever (although not everyone with the flu will run a fever)

·         sore throat

·         shaking chills

·         severe muscle or body aches

·         headache

·         stuffy and runny nose

·         profound fatigue (may last up to two weeks) 

Some people may experience vomiting and diarrhea, but this is more common in children.

How to Treat the Flu

          In most cases, fluids and rest are the best way to treat the flu. Over-the-counter decongestants and pain relievers such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen may control your symptoms and help you feel better. However, never give aspirin to children. It can increase the risk of a rare but serious condition called Reye’s syndrome. Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration.

          The drugs can shorten the duration of the flu and prevent complications such as pneumonia, but you need to take them within the first 48 hours of getting sick in order to have a positive impact.

When to Call a Doctor

          Call your doctor when you first have symptoms if you’re at risk for complications from the flu. Serious complications include:

·         people over the age of 50

·         pregnant women

·         children under the age of 2

·         those with weakened immune systems due to HIV/AIDS, steroid treatment, or chemotherapy

·         people with chronic lung or heart conditions

·         people with metabolic disorders such as diabetes, anemia, or kidney disease

·         people living in long-term care facilities such as nursing homes

Contact your doctor right away if your symptoms do not improve, or if they become severe. See a doctor if you have signs of pneumonia, including:

·         trouble breathing

·         severe sore throat

·         cough that produces green mucus

·         high, persistent fever

·         chest discomfort

Monitor children closely, and seek prompt medical treatment if they develop the following symptoms:

·         labored breathing

·         irritability

·         lethargy

·         refusing to eat or drink

·         trouble awaking or interacting

How to Prevent the Flu

          The best way to prevent the flu is by getting the flu shot. Most doctors recommend getting the flu vaccine in October, or at the very start of flu season. However, you can still get the vaccine in late fall or winter.

To avoid picking up the influenza virus, wash your hands often and thoroughly with warm soap and water, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Avoid touching your nose, eyes, and mouth, and try to stay away from anyone who has the flu or flu-like symptoms.

It’s important to adopt healthy habits to keep cold and flu germs at bay. You should always make sure you get plenty of sleep, eat lots of fruits and vegetables, exercise, and manage your stress during cold and flu season and beyond.Top of Form

Bottom of Form

 Now let me tell you what things to follow on daily basis to avoid and cure such things apart from the ones mentioned above.

1.  If you have such symptoms the very first day you should get some oranges and keep it in sunlight for an hour before taking out juice out of it and consume it empty stomach in morning, as it will be the first thing to consume and our body tends to absorb nutrients from food when its empty for long hours. If you are having this on daily basis there is no chance you can et sick until unless  one gets too close to the infected person like holding hands or sharing a coke, kissing a sick person and so on.
2. . If you get a bunch of kiwis, this fruit is very helpful during the infection period. kiwi has more vitamin c than orange thus is a better option if your are infected already. 
3. stick to fluid diet such as juices, ors solution, lots and lots of water preferably warm every time you drink. But do not mix hot and cold water the whole day, if you are taking warm then stick to warm every time you drink or if at room temperature then let it be at room temperature every time. As we do not want to change the temperature inside our body so frequently which will lead to worst condition.
4. As a fluid diet one can always get simple chicken soup.
5. one must always keep his stomach full tight with fluid every time during infection.
6.  Be a couch potato. Listen to your body. If it’s telling you not to exercise, don’t. If it’s urging you to spend all day in bed, do. Don't press on with daily chores even in the face of severe cold or flu symptoms. Rest is “another way of supporting the body’s ability to fight infection,” 
7.  Humidify. Breathing moist air helps ease nasal congestion. One good strategy is to indulge in a steamy shower several times a day -- or just turn on the shower and sit in the bathroom for a few minutes, inhaling the steam. Another is to use a steam vaporizer or a humidifier. *********DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS UNTIL YOU MAKE SURE THERE IS NO TEMPERATURE CHANGE FACED BY YOUR BODY INTERNAL OR EXTERNAL**** 
8. BE A SUCKER. there are good range of throat lozenges, surprisingly effective to reduce coughing. 

 SINCE THERE IS NO SUCH VACCINE TO CURE THIS INFECTION, ONE MUST FOLLOW ABOVE REMEDIES TO MAKE IT EASY TO SURVIVE IN THOSE DAYS, REST IF FOLLOWED FOR REGULAR BASIS ONE CAN STAY AWAY FOREVER FROM SUCH INFECTION.

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW, IF IN CASE I MADE A MISTAKE OR MISSED OUT SOMETHING.

REGARDS 

LALIT KUMAR

a healthier way to life with simple things: introduction to healthy life

a healthier way to life with simple things: introduction to healthy life: Sometimes big changes start with small shifts. Whether you're trying to eat better, get more active or ward off germs,...

How I did it

        

When I first time went to a cruise ship to work , I was so excited to be there. but after 3 months or so I had an anxiety attack for the first time. I didn't even know that time what the hell is happening to me while I was on duty. Then I went to on-board clinic and was shocked to know that I had a high blood pressure and anxiety, doctor suggested me to take medicine but I asked cant it be cured without medicine. He has only one answer to it that was eat healthy live well and to add more followed by simple cardiac and warm up exercises are enough to avoid any blood pressure problem. While leaving the clinic I just checked my weight and it was 91 kg and before 3 months I was just 72 kg. I promised to drop down to 70 again. Ultimately after exactly 45 days I was 71 kg with no sign of high blood pressure or anxiety. But still I follow  healthy habits to maintain that health. Now we always worry about finding time for workout, but is someone is really intended to do it, I would suggest to do workout for at least 2-4 months with a strict diet ( this is only for those who are lazy but want to stay healthy) .



Now lets come on the tasks one need to accomplish to get such an health.



First thing first, while doing any physical activity, it is very important to have a control on breathing. One must breath in from nose only and exhale from mouth only. If we breath only form nose this will improve the lungs efficiency of absorbing maximum oxygen from every breath-in. Here I forcing to exhale from mouth has very good reason. That is when we breath in we take oxygen, after our body utilizes oxygen , CO2 starts building up inside body and exhaling from mouth will ensure that maximum CO2 is thrown out of body thus providing more space for next breath in. 

Some example of such breathing technique are like swimmers, because that is one of the most vigorous physical activity that needs good lungs and breathing techniques. 

What I did to get healthy is start my day by drinking at least 500 ml of water every day before going to restroom. According to the Japanese tradition, the practice of drinking water on an empty stomach should be done regularly and different time frames are predicted to treat, improve or control different conditions:

1. High blood pressure – 30 days (This thing is my experience)
2. Diabetes – 30 days
3. Gastritis – 10 days
4. Constipation – 10 days (This thing is my experience and also followed by my cabin mate in ship as people working in ship dint get enough to eat and drink water, this being the most common health issues in my job)
5. Tuberculosis – 90 days
6. People who suffer from arthritis should do the therapy for only three days in their first week, and then progress to a daily treatment.
**************************It is suggested that if you initially struggle to drink such a large amount of fluids first thing in the morning, start with a smaller amount and then gradually increase to 4 glasses.
WARNING  DO NOT EXCEED THE QUANTITY OF WATER MORE THEN 1 LITRE AS OUR KIDNEY CAN ONLY PROCESS 800 ML - 1000 ML OF WATER IN AN HOUR. EXCEEDING THIS QUANTITY REGULARLY MAY LEAD TO  HYPONATREMIA. 
Now once you did with this water drinking therapy, ensure you do not eat anything for at least 45 minutes. 

 After you finish your morning cores, have a breakfast. Now breakfast is one of the most important meal of the day just because it initiates a kick start to metabolism. Higher the metabolism higher the energy thus ensuring maximum breakdown of food and fat in your body. I personally prefer following food items in breakfast: 

• Cantaloupe/papaya/kharbooja- 250 gm or whole if you can, very good for cleaning your stomach.
• Grapefruit- eat one before any meal as this specifically known for burning fat and its better to have before meal so that it can absorb the fat of that meal. 
• Pear- one can eat pear to kill hunger thus ensure less food to be consumed without any side effects will keep your tummy hunger free for hours.
• Milk- 250 ml skimmed or fat free
• Fresh fruit juices as much as you can.
• Poha is also very good Indian breakfast with no fat and high energy.
• Apple-1 no, this is said to be the natural alternative to wake up brain , avoid coffee or tea.

******for some people this diet might not be enough but for them I will suggest to eat more pears and other fruits in morning and control your hunger for only 2 hours after fruity breakfast, you are good eat another meal and most heavenly meal for me.

*****DO NOT EAT ANYTHING AFTER BREAKFAST FOR AT LEAST 2 HOURS.

Here come the lunch time. Lunch is also important because this is the only major and hunger killer meal of the day if you are on health mission.What is did with my lunch is to prepare any salad or recipe with only three types of ingredients main food item(3 items), something to moisture it up either a sauce or dressing and seasoning.

My favourite recipe is corn flake salad with yoghurt.

 

Ingredients:

• corn flakes of your choice or you can add rice flakes/ boiled chicken breast/cottage cheese/leftover breads of any kind- 150 gm
• lettuce or any green leafy vegetable-150 gm
• tomatoes/boiled zucchini / sautéed carrots/any vegetable of your choice-150 gm
• yoghurt home-made with fat free milk or ready-made- 200 gm

Mix all ingredients together and seasoning with your favourite seasoning. One can put oregano seasoning/ thyme/ black and white pepper/ lemon and pepper seasoning along with a pinch of salt less than what you eat. Salt level in blood is also one major reason of high blood pressure.

******FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE******AVOID EATING ANY MEAT OR HIGH PROTEIN FOOD LIKE RED KIDNEY BEANS, YELLOW DAAL ( SPLIT LENTILS) OR ANYTHING WITH SODIUM/SALT. EAT BANANA OR POTASSIUM RICH FOOD INSTEAD.

After lunch it important to take a rest for 15 min at least because when we eat lunch our body tends to put maximum energy in breaking up the lunch thus one may feel dizzy or sleepy.

If you want some more lunch recipes let me know or wait for my another post. or follow this link Lunch lite. 

If you are fond of tea or coffee in the evening, replace it with green tea or prepare yourself some lemon tea with honey ******strictly no white sugar*****use brown sugar or go unsweetened*

After this tea time I used hit the gym for some cardiac. Start with the treadmill inclined at 5 degree set at 5 mph and walk in big steps do not run only walk with hands going up and down as much as possible. Moving your hand up and down while walking. what I used to do it calculate calorie burn using pulse sensor in treadmill and setting up the age, most modern treadmill has this feature. my daily target was to burn at least 500 calories on treadmill. Now when you warmed up increase the speed but do not exceed 7.5 mph and increase inclination to 15 deg and dont forget you have to walk fast do not run. Decrease speed when you feel exhausted and try breath in from nose only and exhale from as I told previously.

After exhausting decrease speed as much as you want but do not stop, lower speed only for 30 seconds and then take a sprint at 7 mph again. Doing this sprint will train your body for more stamina and increase high heartbeat causing more fat calorie burning. Since I working in ship I am on duty 24*7 I used to do do this much only as more workout demands more rest after it. but for those who have time can do below mentioned exercise as well.

jumping rope, bicycling (stationary or outdoor), cross-country skiing, skating, rowing, high- or low-impact aerobics,swimming, and water aerobics.

How Often Should You Exercise?

Go for moderate activity, like brisk walking, at least 30 minutes a day, at least 5 days a week. If you’re short on time, vigorous activity, like jogging, gives you the same benefit in 20 minutes, 3 to 4 days a week.

If you’re not active today, gradually work up to this amount of exercise. If it takes you a few weeks to get there, that’s absolutely fine.

First, warm up. A 5- to 10-minute warm-up helps your body get moving and helps prevent injury.

Next, step up the intensity. Don't overdo it -- you should still be able to talk to someone while you're exercising. But if you’re able to sing, step it up a bit to make sure you’re getting the most out of your exercise.

Lastly, cool down. When you're done exercising, don't stop suddenly. Just slow down for a few minutes. This is especially important for someone with high blood pressure.

Lastly time for the night thing. At night I would take a lemon tea again follow by dinner.

My personal is whole wheat bread sandwich and poached vegetables of your choice and to flavour it you can use pickles. My recipe is sliced poached vegetables with seasoning of my choice and pickle assemble it with a whole wheat bread to make a great sandwich also put lettuce or any green leafy vegetables.

Green leafy vegetables are good source of iron important to give your muscle some strength thus avoiding any sprain or strain in muscles.

This is how I did it for 45 days and lost 20 kg and cured my high blood pressure.

Please do leave your comments if i missed something or something wrong I said.

Regards

Lalit kumar