Colds in the Medical Perspective

The term colds is quite popular and is even considered a disease. Colds are often used to describe the problem of not feeling well, aches, and flatulence. Many people think that this happens because too much wind enters the body, especially during the rainy season. What is the medical world view about this? Catching a cold is not a medical term nor is it a disease. Colds are just a term used by Indonesian people to describe complaints of fever, chills, muscle aches, aches, flatulence, and loss of appetite.

Causes colds

The causes of colds can vary, because there are various diseases that can cause complaints above. But certainly, colds are not caused by wind or rain directly. Complaints to colds most often arise due to decreased endurance, so that sufferers are susceptible to being infected with viruses or bacteria. Why this condition is associated with wind and rain, is still unclear. But certainly, the lack of sun exposure during the rainy season can indeed make the production of vitamin D in the body decline. Vitamin D is one of the nutrients that plays a role in endurance, in addition to vitamin C and omega-3s. Decreased immune system causes disease with various symptoms that are called by the public as colds. Symptoms that are commonly felt are fever, chills, headaches, coughs, colds, muscle aches, abdominal pain, flatulence, frequent belching, frequent bowel movements, and feeling weak.

Some diseases that are often referred to as colds

As explained earlier, catching a cold is not a disease, but rather a collection of symptoms from certain medical conditions. Complaints to colds can be a sign of some of the following diseases:

1. Upper respiratory tract infection

Upper respiratory tract infections (nose and throat) are the most common diseases with symptoms of fever, runny nose and cough, which can be viral or bacterial. Most upper respiratory infections have mild symptoms and can resolve on their own. But if you have attacked the lower respiratory tract (trachea and airways in the lungs), for example in pneumonia, the symptoms will be more severe and can cause dangerous complications.

2. Indigestion

Indigestion can cause several symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, flatulence, diarrhea, constipation, and painful sensation or heartburn. These symptoms, especially bloating, are also often said to be colds. The causes of digestive disorders vary, including food poisoning, viral or bacterial infections, food allergies or intolerance, and stress.

3. Dengue fever and malaria

Both of these diseases are infectious diseases that often occur in tropical countries, like Indonesia. Both are equally transmitted through mosquito bites. Dengue fever and malaria can cause symptoms of fever, joint pain, aches, chills, and weakness. If not handled properly, this disease can cause serious complications to death.

4. Heart disease

Heart disease can occur when the heart muscle does not get enough blood and oxygen supply, due to blockage or narrowing of the heart's blood vessels. This condition often causes chest pain which people call the sitting wind. Complaints can be heartburn or chest pain that radiates to the arm, neck, or back, weakness, shortness of breath, until fainting.

When to see a doctor?

There are many possible diseases that can cause colds, and the cause could be a serious illness. Therefore, you need to be careful and not underestimate it, especially if the symptoms are quite severe and do not improve immediately. If you catch a cold in the form of high fever for more than 3 days, weakness, vomiting, and diarrhea constantly, or accompanied by chest pain with a history of heart disease, then you need to see a doctor immediately.

How to Overcome Colds

Although generally able to heal itself, colds can cause discomfort and interfere with your activities. The following are some ways that can be done to relieve colds and accelerate recovery:

• Drink plenty of water, especially in conditions of vomiting and diarrhea, to prevent dehydration.
• Drink warm water. This method can help relieve symptoms of respiratory tract infections. Warm water can be mixed with honey or ginger to further warm the body.
• Get enough rest. This is important to do to help the body malawan infection.
• Do not smoke and avoid caffeine and alcohol consumption.
• Taking fever-lowering drugs. Fever and muscle aches in colds can be relieved with heat-reducing and pain medications, such as paracetamol.

How to prevent colds

The main way to prevent colds is to maintain endurance. This can be done by:

• Eat healthy and nutritious foods that contain protein, omega-3, and antioxidants, such as vitamin C, flavonoids, and vitamin A.
• Exercise regularly.
• Get enough rest and sleep.
• Familiarize yourself with washing hands with soap and running water or with a hand sanitizer, to prevent the spread of disease. Washing hands needs to be done before and after eating, after toileting, after touching animals, and before and after contact with sick people.
• Wear a jacket and thicker clothes when the weather is cold.

So, it can be concluded that colds are not a disease, but rather a term commonly used by the public to refer to complaints of general discomfort. The causes are varied, can be a mild disease, can also be a dangerous disease. To treat colds, the cause must be known in advance. Although common colds can heal on their own without treatment, if symptoms are felt to get worse and persist, you need to see a doctor immediately.