Synonyms
- Rhinitis
- Cooling
- Sniffles
- Influenza
Cold prophylaxis
Unlike the flu, there is no preventive vaccination against colds that could protect against infection. The best prevention is to stay away from people who are already infected or to observe certain hygiene conditions after contact with an infected person. These include washing hands (if possible with disinfectant solutions containing alcohol) and avoiding close contact with the infected person.
Otherwise, there are no special preventive measures for colds. General prophylactic measures for the general avoidance of diseases are of course just as good to use in the case of a cold. These include: regular exercise, a balanced diet (vitamins, minerals, fiber), stress reduction. Numerous preventive or curative medications for colds have not been proven to be effective in studies. The frequently recommended vitamin C preparations to be taken for colds have shown no advantage over not taking them.
Medicines for the prevention of colds
No medication should be taken to prevent colds. Drugs are only necessary if a cold already exists or if the first symptoms appear. Preventive measures can only be taken in certain circumstances, such as minimizing the risk of transmission of pathogens or strengthening the immune system.
This can be achieved through a balanced, vitamin-rich diet and supported by homeopathy, for example. There are also over-the-counter medicines that support the immune system. These are preparations that contain many vitamins and minerals.
Medicines can be effective when the first signs of a cold become apparent and these are to be fought. This often has a positive effect on the further course of the cold and the cold subsides more quickly. Taking combination preparations is often not very helpful, because for example the containing cough suppressant is only useful at night and during the day the coughing promotes the removal of mucus.
It is therefore better to combat the symptoms individually. For example, with cough syrup for coughing, nasal spray for stuffy noses and, if necessary, antipyretic drugs if the fever is very high. For headaches caused by a cold, preparations containing the active ingredient ibuprofen can be helpful.
Aspirin© as an analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory drug, is used for symptomatic therapy of already existing colds and is less suitable for general prevention of a flu-like infection. Especially for cold symptoms, an Aspirin© vitamin C mixture can be recommended, which is usually administered as an effervescent tablet to dissolve in water. However, Aspirin© must not be used in infants and children.
Aspirin© with the active ingredient acetylsalicylic acid relieves headaches and aching limbs, lowers fever and curbs the inflammatory processes in the area of the mucous membranes caused by the viruses. The combination preparation with vitamin C (ascorbic acid) also has a strengthening effect on the immune system. Even though the intake of vitamin C is generally suitable for the prevention of colds, the prophylactic intake of Aspirin© is not recommended at all: due to the possible side effects (e.g. in the gastrointestinal tract) a temporary and purely symptom-related intake is recommended.
