The Cold War

Doctors suggest you take good care of even common cough and chest congestion

Trying self-prescribed medicines for that runny nose, flaming eyes and constant cough? Doctors in the city say it may not be wise. With mercury following its whims, doctors say the number of people complaining of common ailments like cough, cold and chest congestion has gone up. But most people are not paying much attention to it, add the doctors, and are trying to treat themselves with over the counter (OTC) medicines or home remedies.

"While OTCs and home remedies may work in certain cases, the symptoms may also recur if not treated well," cautions physician Dr Sanjeev Mehta. He adds that it is important to identify whether the cough is dry or wet. "A wet cough is where one produces phlegm and a dry cough sees no such production. Different types of cough syrups are required to treat different symptoms," says Mehta.

Doctors also spot a direct relation between seasonal conditions and an increased rate of respiratory disorders. They attribute the increase to cold weather, increase in viral infections, crowding together of susceptible hosts, lower humidity and air pollution. Dr Yogesh Kadam, diabetologist at Poona Diabetes Centre, says, "Adults are more susceptible to pneumonia. In many cases they already suffer from co-morbid conditions such as diabetes and heart disease, which weakens their immunity. In Pune, over the past few months we have treated a large number of adults with pneumonia and hence there is a need to highlight the importance of vaccines for prevention of common infections."

Fitness Formula

Eat spicy and warm foods – Spicy ingredients such as chilli, ginger, garlic and black pepper may help if you are suffering from chest congestion. These help in thinning the mucus and make it easier to breathe. Eating warm food also helps as heat kills harmful bacteria.

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