Feeling a little itchy in your throat or other mild cold symptoms? You can’t avoid getting sick at this point, but there are things you can do to avoid a lingering, bad cold.
Dr Shireen, a general practitioner in the UK’s National Health Service (NHS), shared “super easy” health tips for coughs and colds this winter in a viral video on TikTok (@doctorshireen).
The notes on the clip, which has racked up 1.9 million views since it was posted on Oct. 12, read, “Doctor-approved: Tips to reduce the duration and severity of coughs and colds this winter.” It is written.
“I want to give you a little tip, a very simple tip, that will reduce the duration and severity of your colds this winter,” the doctor said in the video.
“When you start showing signs of a cough or cold, like an itchy throat, runny nose, itchy eyes, or a burning sensation, the two things I want you to do are take vitamin C and zinc,” she says. Masu.
“Just start,” he advised, noting that vitamin C and zinc are available as tablets that contain both and can be dissolved in water and taken.
The doctor warned: “Although it cannot prevent coughs and colds, recent studies have shown that taking zinc and vitamin C can reduce the duration and severity of symptoms.” [of them]. ”
She added, “I’ve been doing this personally for a few years now and I can tell you it really works.”
According to a survey in December 2023, BMC public healthcolds are the main cause of acute disease states, i.e., the state of being sick or sick, and are “the main cause of absence from work or school,” and “absenteeism depends on the severity of symptoms.” .
This study found that “vitamin C shortens the duration of colds” and reported a greater effect on severe cold symptoms than on mild cold symptoms.
April 2020 Survey American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene found that “in healthy adults, supplementation with micronutrients other than vitamin C may not prevent the onset of colds or reduce the severity of symptoms.”
“However, it has been observed that zinc supplementation can reduce the duration of a cold by 2.25 days, and zinc supplementation may reduce the overall burden of colds in healthy adults.” The study states.
The study explains that “intake of certain micronutrients strengthens the immune system through strengthening epithelial cells.” [the tissue covering exposed surfaces of the body] “The positive effects of micronutrient intake on the immune system suggest that they may play a potential protective role against infectious diseases,” it added. added.
According to the newspaper, during the fall and winter respiratory disease season, the combined peak number of hospitalizations due to the new coronavirus, influenza, and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) is likely to be the same as last season or lower. , this post went viral. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The CDC states, “As of October 11, overall respiratory virus activity is low nationwide,” and recommends that “vaccination is expected to play an important role in preventing hospitalization.”
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