Friday, September 13, 2024, 7:04 p.m.
The pharmacies and waiting rooms of outpatient clinics are already beginning to fill up with patients suffering from colds, sore throats, asthma and all the ‘itis’ typical of this time of year: sinusitis, rhinitis, laryngitis… The sudden drop in Temperatures, the start of classes and the return to work after the holidays multiply the spread of undesirable viruses, which are already doing their thing. These are the most common common pathologies at this time of year.
Cold, cough, malaise…
We haven’t officially entered fall yet, but the first colds of the season are already upon us. Runny nose, discomfort, headache, sneezing, coughing… «Most of the respiratory infections we suffer at this time are mild and temporary. And most are caused by viruses, so it is of no use to self-medicate with an antibiotic that we have at home,” they warn in the Scientific Dissemination Area of the General Council of Pharmacists.
If what happens to us does not go beyond a common cold, we can use the first aid kit to treat the symptoms and make the days when we feel worse more bearable. «Anticatarrhals, which can be dispensed without a prescription and do not have major side effects, usually include a combination of active ingredients that help improve the patient’s general condition. The most common thing is that they carry an analgesic (ibuprofen, paracetamol, acetylsalicylic acid…) to reduce fever and relieve pain; an antihistamine (chlorphenamine) to reduce itchy eyes, sneezing, and runny nose; and a decongestant (phenylephrine, pseudoephedrine…) to ‘unclog’ the nose,” the pharmacists say.
To treat cough, it is important to differentiate between dry and productive cough. In the case of the first, you can resort to antitussive medications (dextromethorphan), while if phlegm is expelled what we have to take is a mucolytic (acetylcysteine, carbocysteine…) to help it become more fluid. The Spanish Association of Pediatrics (AEP) advises against the use of anti-cold medications in children under 12 years of age.
Laryngitis and pharyngitis
They are the most common throat diseases. When the inflammation affects the vocal cords (most laryngitis in adults) it is common for the patient to become hoarse. If this laryngitis caused by a common cold or flu lasts a couple of days, there is no need to go to the doctor. Simply rest your voice, drink fluids, or take a pain reliever. In the case of children, this pathology is more complicated because it normally affects the part above the vocal cords (epiglottis) and if this area becomes inflamed it can obstruct breathing. The first thing to do is give ibuprofen (anti-inflammatory) and open the window so the child can breathe cold air. If it does not improve, you should go to the emergency room.
What happens in pharyngitis is that an infection of the mucous membranes surrounding the tonsils occurs, almost always due to viruses. In this case, the most characteristic symptom is pain when swallowing. “When it is of viral origin it can be controlled with anti-inflammatories, while if the infection is due to bacteria it requires antibiotic treatment.”
Asthma and allergic rhinitis
Although respiratory crises can occur at any season, for patients with dust mite allergies, the worst time of year is from September to November because the allergen protein is more active. Allergic rhinitis, which is increasingly common, also usually peaks in the autumn months and, in this case, the symptoms vary depending on the allergen that causes the reaction, although the majority of patients who suffer from this type of rhinitis suffer from itching, sneezing and runny nose more liquid and clear.
Lemon verbena for a cold and ginger with lemon for a sore throat
The plants, seeds and flowers have been traditionally used to treat different types of ailments such as colds, coughs or sore throats. «Now, infusions can have very beneficial effects if used appropriately, but they can also be harmful to our body if we take them incorrectly, in high doses or if they are mixed with certain medications. The problem is that many people think that since they are natural products they cannot harm us and that is not the case. “Natural does not mean harmless,” they warn in the Medicine Information Area of the General Council of Pharmaceutical Colleges before recommending a couple of combinations to mitigate the symptoms caused by typical diseases of this time of year.
The mix of green tea, lemon verbena and mint It is “ideal” to help combat the symptoms of chronic cough and colds. You can also add a teaspoon of lemon and even another teaspoon of honey. “In addition to being an antioxidant, green tea also has properties on the immune system, so combined with mint and lemon verbena (anti-inflammatory) it can improve these types of pathologies.”
On the other hand, ginger and lemon infusion It is “excellent” for relieving a sore throat. It is recommended to drink three cups daily for a couple of days to notice its effects. “These two ingredients are widely used to treat this type of discomfort due to their anti-inflammatory ‘power’,” the pharmacists say. You can also add a quarter teaspoon of cayenne pepper.
Take milk with honey or make eucalyptus vapors to ‘release’ the mucus can also help in some catarrhal processes, “but in no case will they cure diseases on their own. Other ‘tricks’ don’t work at all. «Neither cutting an onion and sleeping with it near the bed makes you breathe better nor does taking propolis prevent you from getting colds. The best thing to keep our immune system in check is to maintain a correct nutritional status.