Beware! If your cold lingers, do not take it lightly; here is what it could mean - Times Now
If the cold, cough, and runny nose linger, there are some other reasons that you need to dwell upon
New Delhi: If you have had a cold and the symptoms would not subside even after two weeks, you need to be worried. Colds are highly contagious infections of the nose and throat and bring along congestion, runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, coughing, mild fever, and headache. According to experts, a common cold is experienced twice or thrice every year but can be recovered within a week or a maximum of ten days.
However, if the cold, cough, and runny nose linger, there are some other reasons that you need to dwell upon.
Is it more than just cold?
Some of the symptoms are:
- High fever which lasts more than three days
- Symptoms that last more than 10 days
- Breathlessness, and wheezing
- Bluish skin color
Ear pains- Flu-like symptoms
Reasons for lingering cold
According to health experts, a few reasons why you have a chronic cold can be:
Low immunity
Doctors feel that the elderly and children are more prone to chronic and returning colds especially during changing seasons as the virus is difficult to fight off the body.
A side effect of medicines
Many times, you take medications that cause side effects like coughs that do not go away.
Post-nasal drainage
Post-nasal drainage is a consequence of a cold residue that is caused due to productive cough or white phlegm that persists. It can also become worse at night when you lie down to sleep, as it tends to block nasal passage.
Doctors say that post-nasal drainage is a common after-effect of the cold and can also be caused by allergies, and weather changes.
Allergies
Changing weather also causes allergies to spike, leading to runny nose, cough, and itchy and watery eyes.
Changes in the climate may impact the pollen seasons of trees, grasses, and weeds by both increasing the amount of pollen produced and extending the duration of the pollen season. The intensity of pollen seasons also affects allergic disorders such as rhinitis, conjunctivitis, and asthma.
Bacterial sinusitis
Acute bacterial sinusitis is an infection of your nasal cavity and sinuses, caused by bacteria. The infection inflames the nasal passage causing pain, fever, and difficulty in breathing.Doctors say it happens when congestion from a cold gives the right environment for bacteria to grow, causing a sinus infection.
Pneumonia
Persistent and constant cough, accompanied by mucus, fever, and breathlessness can be a sign of pneumonia which is most likely to affect people with chronic lung disease, like asthma or emphysema.
It is a serious and potentially life-threatening illness that requires quick treatment.
Digestive issues
Digestive issues like acid reflux may cause a dry cough and hoarseness, and lingering symptoms of a cold. These may often worsen after heavy or spicy meals, when you lie down to sleep, or if you take anti-inflammatory pain medication.
Disclaimer: Tips and suggestions mentioned in the article are for general information purposes only and should not be construed as professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor or a dietician before starting any fitness programme or making any changes to your diet.
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