People who catch colds easily lack what?

Written by Hu Bai Yu
Pulmonology
Updated on October 22, 2024
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If you find yourself catching colds easily, it usually indicates that your immune system is weak. This could be due to a deficiency in trace elements such as vitamins, calcium, or zinc. It is advisable to get these trace elements tested at a hospital and then supplement accordingly. In daily life, you can also consume foods high in protein, calcium, and vitamin C. For example, you might include eggs, milk, or lean meats in your diet, and it is important to eat fresh fruits and vegetables to boost your vitamin C intake and enhance your resistance to illnesses. Additionally, it is recommended to exercise regularly to strengthen your physique. Exercising also increases metabolism and promotes excretion, which can further enhance your immune system.

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Written by Wu Shu Jie
Traditional Chinese Medicine
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Can scraping (gua sha) treat a cold?

Gua Sha is one of the methods used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for treating and preventing diseases. It is often performed on the Bladder Meridian of Foot-Taiyang, which is located on the back of the human body. The Bladder Meridian of Foot-Taiyang is superficial and acts as the first line of defense when external pathogens invade the body. By scraping the Bladder Meridian of Foot-Taiyang, it stimulates the meridians and channels, enhances the body's immunity, and promotes the expulsion of pathogenic factors by strengthening the body’s vital energy. According to TCM, "when the vital energy is preserved within, pathogens cannot interfere." Therefore, scraping the Bladder Meridian of Foot-Taiyang can help in treating and preventing the common cold.

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Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
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How to get over a cold quickly?

The common cold is one of the most frequent infectious diseases seen in clinical practice and is also a self-limiting illness. It is often caused by factors such as exposure to cold, staying up late, stress, and lack of sleep, which lead to decreased immunity. Consequently, viruses or the influenza virus may take advantage and infect the body, causing symptoms of the common cold. To treat a cold, one should first drink plenty of warm water and measure their temperature twice daily. The main principle of treatment is symptomatic treatment and antiviral management. One may choose to take Ribavirin or Qingkailing for antiviral treatment. If symptoms like fever and runny nose are present, one can opt for antipyretic analgesics and drugs that reduce glandular secretions. Concurrently, include more vitamin C-rich foods in the diet. (Medications should be used under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Hu Bai Yu
Pulmonology
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How to relieve a cold with headache and nausea

Colds accompanied by headache and nausea that prompts a feeling of wanting to vomit can be symptoms caused by a gastrointestinal type of cold, leading to dizziness, headache, nausea, and other discomforts. At this time, one can take some anti-cold medications combined with medications that aid digestion and alleviate symptoms. It is also necessary to take medicines that regulate the stomach and intestines for treatment. Make sure to eat smaller meals more frequently and not to eat too much at one time. Additionally, under the guidance of a doctor, one can take some antiemetic drugs to relieve nausea and the urge to vomit. It's beneficial to consume more liquid or soft foods, such as millet porridge, soft noodles, or vegetable soup. Moreover, it's important to eat slowly and chew thoroughly to fully digest the food and avoid overburdening the intestines and causing symptoms of indigestion.

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Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
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How to deal with cold chills and fever?

Symptoms of a cold such as chills and fever are manifestations of chills and high fever. During this period, one should first measure the body temperature, drink plenty of water, and promptly take appropriate fever-reducing measures depending on the severity of the fever to prevent febrile convulsions. Generally, the body temperature is measured again two hours after fever reduction through physical cooling or medication. Once the body sweats, the body temperature will return to normal, and the symptoms of chills will gradually ease. If the body temperature exceeds 38.5 degrees Celsius, medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen can be taken. (The use of medications should be under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Yuan Qing
Pulmonology
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What is the difference between viral cold and wind-heat cold?

The distinction between viral influenza and wind-heat cold is mainly the different naming conventions used by two different medical systems for the common cold. Viral influenza is a term used in modern medicine to describe a viral infection. In contrast, wind-heat cold is a term used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for a type of cold that occurs after being affected by a pathogenic heat. These two terms are completely different. The pathogen of viral influenza is primarily caused by a viral infection. On the other hand, wind-heat cold is diagnosed based on symptoms, suggesting that the individual might have been affected by pathogenic heat, or has internal heat, leading to the condition. Therefore, generally, viral influenza is not treated with traditional Chinese medicine. Wind-heat cold, conversely, is not treated with Western medicine. So, if diagnosed with viral influenza, one would typically take some antiviral medications along with Western cold medicines. If diagnosed with wind-heat cold by a TCM practitioner, some appropriate heat-clearing and detoxifying Chinese medicines would be prescribed. These represent two distinct medical systems with their unique diagnostic labels for the illness.