Sniffles during pregnancy
Sniffles in pregnancy occur relatively frequently and can have many causes. As with non-pregnant women, a cold can occur during pregnancy due to cold viruses, allergies or irritants. The most common cause of a cold is also a viral infection in pregnant women.
This often leads to sore throats and limbs, coughing, swollen lymph nodes or an increased body temperature. In most cases, an increased fluid intake as well as bed rest and inhalation with saline water are sufficient. Only in rare cases does a secondary bacterial infection occur in the course of the illness, which should also be treated with a suitable antibiotic in pregnant women.
Allergies can also lead to rhinitis symptoms during pregnancy, often accompanied by itching of the eyes and ears. A special cause of rhinitis in pregnancy is the so-called pregnancy rhinitis, which is triggered by hormonal changes during pregnancy. This phenomenon, also known as pregnancy rhinitis, is common and occurs in up to 30 percent of all pregnant women.
It is a harmless cold that disappears at the latest after the end of pregnancy. It leads to irritation, inflammation and swelling of the nasal mucous membranes and, as a result, to the typical cold symptoms. Frequently, a permanently blocked nose is observed, a runny nose is rarely observed.
In addition, fatigue, headaches and exhaustion can occur, which can be very stressful for the pregnant woman. The causes of rhinitis in pregnancy have not yet been fully researched, but an elevated level of the female sex hormone estrogen is suspected to be the cause.An increased oestrogen level is mainly responsible for the growth and blood circulation of the placenta and the uterine lining, but it also increases the production of nasal secretions, which could be the cause of the development of the pregnancy rhinitis. The use of decongestant nasal sprays can be tried, but the recommended period of one week should not be exceeded.
Prolonged use of decongestant nasal drops can also lead to permanent nasal congestion (privinism). The treatment of pregnancy rhinitis usually begins with light physical training, sufficient fluid intake and sufficiently high humidity (e.g. sauna). If these measures are not sufficient to relieve the symptoms, a doctor should be consulted.
In the case of a harmless cold, where the only symptom is a slightly blocked or runny nose, there should be no serious consequences to be feared through moderate sport, if you feel fit enough. However, this principle no longer applies from the moment the cold is accompanied by fever. A febrile viral infection can spread through the body in connection with the physical strain during sport, in the worst case to the heart.
If the body’s own defence system is not able to fight the viruses, an inflammatory reaction of the heart muscle (myocarditis) may occur, which may even be life-threatening. A rhinitis is caused by an infection with viruses. The infection activates the immune system, which fights the pathogen.
If one does sports in addition to the virus infection, this means a lot of stress for the body in the already ailing situation. One should even allow oneself a longer break from sports after an illness that was accompanied by fever – at least one week. If you have only had a slight cold, you can start exercising again as soon as the symptoms, such as a cold, have subsided.
In any case, you should start out moderately at first and only gradually increase the intensity of your training again. Basically, it cannot be generally recommended in which situations sport can and cannot be done. It depends on the subjective state of mind and the presence of accompanying symptoms such as sore throat, cough or fever, which should be a reason to stop exercising.
It is better not to do sports if you do not feel good or fit. However, in many cases, a walk in the fresh air can help to relieve cold symptoms such as a cold, and a little exercise promotes general well-being. Maximum physical exertion should be avoided, even with a mild cold, as it weakens the body’s own defense system.
In extreme temperatures (very cold or very hot) it is also recommended to avoid physical exertion. Sufficient fluid intake and low physical strain can even do the immune system some good. In the case of fever, sport should never be done, in all other cases it is often an individual decision.
It is important to listen to the signals of your own body. If you are exhausted, you should not force yourself to exercise, but take a break until you feel fit again. A cold is an infection of the upper respiratory tract (nose, throat) with viruses, which leads to typical symptoms such as running nose (rhinorrhoea), sneezing, coughing, fever or pain (limbs, muscles).
Various viruses can cause a cold: adeno-, rhino-, corona-, parainfluenza viruses and respiratory syncytial virus. A cold is diagnosed mainly on the basis of the clinical picture, although in exceptional cases, methods for virus detection are also available (direct virus detection, culture, antibody detection, antigen detection, PCR). As a rule, a smear of the throat or nose is required, except in the case of antibody detection.
A cold is usually treated symptomatically with fever and pain-reducing drugs, as there is no specific therapy against viruses. There are also various “home remedies” to alleviate the symptoms of a cold. In order to prevent a cold, one should avoid contact with the sick and pay attention to hygiene, especially of the hands. A distinction must be made between a cold and the flu caused by influenza viruses (influenza), which is much more severe.
