7 Things I Do When I Catch A Cold

Did anyone else catch a cold recently? Labor day has passed andthe Autumn season is here. That means school is in session and theweather gets a little cooler. That also means a rise in peoplegetting sick. More people will now start catching colds and gettingthe flu, including the author of this post, who is currentlydealing with a sinus infection (read: I caught a cold). So now thatI have a cold, what do I do? Here I’ll outline what I do and Don’tDo when I catch a cold.

Step 1: I do NOT use over the counter or prescriptionmedication when I catch a cold

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Don’t jump taking pills when you have a cold

I understand why people take these medications and this is notan attack by any means. I choose not to take these because it meansthat the medications are stopping my body from doing what it’ssupposed to do. The mucus is trying to rid my body of dead cells.The fever is trying to kill off the infection. Why would I want tostop the process that is designed to get me better? When I catch acold, I want my body to do what it needs to do. Also, I don’t seekout prescription medications either since antibiotics are noteffective against a virus.

Step 2: I rinse my sinuses

Having a head cold isn’t comfortable. There’s a lot of mucusbuildup and you can’t seem to get it out, no matter how many timesyou blow your nose. Also, blocked sinuses can lead to headaches.Some people use a neti pot. I personally prefer a squeeze bottle.Fill the bottle with warm water and a small bit of salt to preventa burning sensation. Plug into one nostril and squeeze to flush outthrough the other. Keep doing this periodically throughout the dayto really clear out the mucus. Also, the salt in the water willhelp loosen up thicker mucus. I don’t like neti pots because of theangle of your head and neck it requires.

Step 3: I take the right vitamins

Everyone will swear by Vitamin C. I’m not going to disagree. ButI will also take a lot of extra Vitamin D (D3 gelcaps,specifically). Vitamin D is also necessary in immune function.Also, if you have a cough or you feel like a cold has hit yourlungs, then take extra amounts of Vitamin A as your lungs use upVitamin A when your lungs are inflamed. When you first catch acold, it typically hits the sinuses first and the lungs later.

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Step 4: I use natural decongestants and coughsuppressants.

Instead of using an over-the-counter medication, I’ll usenatural ingredients to offer the same effects, with none of theside effects. I understand that having a plugged-up nose is no fun.So I opt to use peppermint crystals or peppermint essential oil tohelp clear my nose. Tastes amazing and doesn’t dry out my sinuses.Also, for a cough, studies have shown that honey should be usedfirst for your throat before medications.

Step 5: I stay warm

There’s been a lot of back and forth about being cold andcatching a cold. Let’s make this clear: Being Cold does NOT giveyou a cold. Catching a cold is a viral infection. BUT lowering yourbody temperature has been shown to lower your overall immunefunction, which makes you more susceptible to infection. Also, ifyour body is feverish, stay warm to help keep your overall bodytemperature higher to help kill off the infection.

Step 6: I get enough rest

We live in a 24-hour lifestyle cycle and life doesn’t seem toever slow down. When you catch a cold, it can be a real burden.Don’t forget to take care of yourself and let yourself heal. Yourbody has two neurological states: Sympathetic and Parasympathetic.Sympathetic can be described as the well-known “Fight or Flight”state. Parasympathetic is when your body can recover, also known asthe Rest and Digest, so the opposite of Sympathetic. Your bodyneeds time to recover and heal. You are important and deserve tofeel and be healthy. I dedicate my days off to healing andreschedule what isn’t absolutely necessary to another day. Don’tfeel bad about taking some time for yourself.

Step 7: I Get Adjusted!

What would a chiropractor do? I absolutely will follow my ownadvice. Why wouldn’t I want my nervous system to be running at100%? Why wouldn’t I want my body to function optimally? Coldsaren’t fun, but it means my body is working. So getting adjusted tokeep my body working properly makes perfect sense. Will it make meimmediately not “sick”? Of course not. But I’ll begin healingbetter. And that’s the most important step to take.

With all of these steps, there is an important caveat that if Ihave an elevated temperature for an extended period of time, thenI’ll seek further help. But if I’m dealing with the common cold,then I’m going to follow my steps to relieve my symptoms and helpmy body get through this.

I hope everyone gets through this season without catching acold. But if you do, try out these steps so you’ll get through itfaster and with less sick days used.