Cold

Forgotten New Year’s resolutions, winter hibernation and health niggles.

It’s time to sit back on the couch with your blanket and fat free hot chocolate and reflect on the past six months. The goals that were set with the countdown into 2007 have been forgotten as soon as the hangover wore off or when the winter weather replaced the long summer days.

Colds have replaced sinus from the pollen and increased the Kleenex usage. Just as there is no miracle cure for laziness, allergies and flu symptoms do not magically disappear. Getting out of bed is our first challenge for the day and the resolutions that seemed achievable are a sore subject.

Cold can be an adjective (it will be a cold day in hell before we get out of bed to go to gym), verb (we are getting cold) or illness.

The winter cold relief - most over-the-counter cold preparations contain aspirin or paracetamol, and a decongestant which reduces nasal stuffiness and dries up secretions. However, a risk of the rebound phenomenon is associated with the use of decongestants: after the action of the agent is over, the secretions recur worse than before. Pseudoephedrine should not be taken if you have heart disease, high blood pressure, prostrate problems, diabetes or thyroid problems.

Avoiding the cold - drink herbal tea, eat garlic and consume probiotic foods to help boost immunity.  The antibacterial properties fight infections and flu.

Warming up from the cold - there is nothing better than a vigorous exercise session to warm up the body for hours instead of snuggling in bed, trying to stop your toes freezing.

Controlling the cold – keep moving throughout the day. The cold tends to target idle bodies that are static. Prevent the icicles growing on your body by getting up and walking around at regular intervals to keep the heart rate slightly elevated.

Overcoming the cold – remember that summer will be here in four months and the layers will have to be shed to prepare for the holiday season. Hopefully, clothes will be the only thing that will need to be removed when the weather heats up and not excess kilos from the extra calories and exercise strike during the winter hibernation.