Care Reminders

REMEMBER, FIRST AND FOREMOST

GET ZZZ’s     Rest 8 - 10 hours per day (combined hours of naps & nighttime sleep).  Sleep is theorized to produce more robust white blood cell activity to fight infection.      

WASH HANDS FREQUENTLY     Wash for 20 seconds with soap & water or use a 60%+ alcohol-based antiseptic gel.  Use bleach or alcohol wipes for surfaces; cold germs can live on counters for 3+ hours. 

DRINK .... (non-alcoholic fluids, that is)     Drink 8-10 servings of an 8 oz glass of water a day. (Drink 10 servings if you have a fever.) Hydration thins the mucus in the lungs/ nose & soothes the throat. Hot liquids may improve nasal & sinus congestion.

ENJOY CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP: “Mother knows best"     Remember your mom's remedy of chicken noodle soup for colds? She was right! Eat a well-balanced diet, including chicken broth. It contains a beneficial amino acid, cysteine. This fights inflammation in the upper respiratory system while hydrating & thinning mucus in the nose/ lungs.

RETURN TO EXERCISE WHEN TOLERATED     If you are missing your exercise routine, return to it gradually, once fever & "below the neck" symptoms (coughing, abdominal upset or discomfort, muscles aches) have cleared.  Reduce the exercise workout time & intensity. For example, instead of jogging, go for a walk. However, if tolerated, you may continue to exercise if you have only "above the neck" symptoms (typical nose, throat & sinus issues).

MOISTURIZE     Use petroleum jelly at the base of the nasal passages to relieve soreness with a runny nose.

HUMIDIFY     Use hot steam showers or a humidifier to help open sinuses & ease sinus pressure.

SLEEP WITH YOUR HEAD UP     If you experience coughing when laying down, use 3-4 pillows to prop your head up.