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Causes of Colds
Colds are primarily caused by viruses transmitted through respiratory droplets from coughing or sneezing, as well as through direct contact. Representative virus types include Influenza viruses and Rhinovirus, each with various transmission routes.
1. Influenza Virus (Flu)
1.1. Influenza A Type
- Characteristics: The most infectious type causing major flu outbreaks.
- Infectious Animals: Can infect humans, birds, and pigs.
- Subtypes: Influenza A is divided into several subtypes like H1N1 and H3N2 based on the combination of surface proteins hemagglutinin and neuraminidase.
- Variability: Subtypes continuously mutate, potentially causing severe epidemics.
1.2. Influenza B Type
- Characteristics: Primarily infects humans with smaller-scale outbreaks compared to Influenza A.
- Infectious Animals: Mainly infects humans, not found in pigs or birds.
- Subtypes: Multiple subtypes of hemagglutinin and neuraminidase, with less drastic variations.
1.3. Influenza C Type
- Characteristics: Causes smaller infections with milder symptoms compared to Influenza A and B.
- Infectious Animals: Mainly infects humans, rare in other animals.
- Subtypes: Unlike A and B, Influenza C doesn't divide into subtypes.
2. Rhinovirus
- Characteristics: Primary cause of the common cold.
- Transmission: Mainly spreads through respiratory droplets, causing mild symptoms like nasal congestion, sore throat, and cough.
- Seasonality: Highest incidence in fall and spring.
3. Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- Characteristics: RNA virus discovered in 2019, highly contagious with transmission occurring among both animals and humans.
- Transmission: Similar to Rhinovirus, spreads through respiratory droplets, showing high human-to-human transmission.
- Symptoms: Fever, cough, difficulty breathing.
- Prevention: Vaccination, mask-wearing, hand hygiene.
- Variability: SARS-CoV-2 undergoes frequent mutations impacting the emergence of new variants and their transmissibility and lethality.
Preventive Measures for Colds
- Hand Washing: Cultivate regular handwashing habits.
- Hand Sanitizer Usage: Use alcohol-based hand sanitizers when handwashing is impractical.
- Avoid Touching Face: Minimize touching the face with unwashed hands.
- Proper Cough Etiquette: Cover coughs or sneezes with the inside of your elbow or use a tissue.
- Appropriate Mask Usage: Regularly wear masks in close-contact situations or enclosed spaces.
- Regular Lifestyle: Adequate sleep, regular exercise, and a balanced diet enhance the immune system's resistance to colds.
- Avoiding Contact: Stay away from individuals with colds and avoid crowded places.
- Proper Ventilation: Frequently ventilate indoor spaces to reduce virus concentration.
- Cold Vaccination: Vaccinations enhance immunity, preventing colds.
Foods Beneficial for Colds
- Fruits and Vegetables: Vitamin C-rich fruits and vegetables such as oranges, lemons, pineapples, spinach, broccoli, and cucumbers strengthen the immune system and aid recovery.
- Olive Oil: Olive oil with anti-inflammatory properties alleviates throat pain caused by colds.
- Water: Adequate water intake, around 2 liters per day, prevents dehydration due to coughing or a runny nose, boosting the immune system.
- Ginger Tea: Ginger's antimicrobial and disinfectant effects provide rapid relief from cold symptoms.
- Herbal Tea: Herbal teas like chamomile, peppermint, and anise enhance the immune system and raise body temperature.
- Herbs and Garlic: Various herbs and garlic, known for their antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects, assist in relieving cold symptoms.
- Onions and Honey: Onions contain antibacterial components, while honey is effective in soothing sore throats.
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