Dealing with an Upper Respiratory Infection
There are certain symptoms associated with an upper respiratory infection which will let you know what you are dealing with, and this includes stuffiness, sore throat, headache, fatigue, runny nose, cough, and a loss of appetite. The difficult thing is that the symptoms of an upper respiratory infection are often so mild and general that it can be easy to confuse them as symptoms of another health problem.
Diagnosis
If you ever experience any of these symptoms you will want to get in to see your doctor so they can make a proper diagnosis. If you have nasal stuffiness and a postnatal drip then a trial of antihistamines is often indicated before starting up an expensive workup. Your doctor will basically be performing a few tests to rule out other ailments and illnesses and make a proper assessment of your condition.
Treatment
There are a number of effective, successful options when it comes to treating an upper respiratory infection. Over the counter medications are the most commonly suggested, with antihistamines helping with itching, watery eyes, runny noses and scratchy throats, and decongestants working for sinus headaches.
There are also many natural remedies and cold treatments that are available for people who are looking for a safer and gentler way to get rid of their upper respiratory infection. The Zicam Cold Remedy is one of the best options here, and is clinically proven to help you get over an upper respiratory infection three times faster than with other methods.
Vitamin C is also very helpful here and is important to include as a part of your daily diet. You can increase your intake of Vitamin C by drinking more orange juice or by taking Vitamin C supplements which are available at health and drug stores around the world.
Prevention
Obviously there is no surefire way to avoid this problem but there are a few precautions that you can take in order to avoid it as much as possible. Washing your hands frequently is one of the most important steps you can take, and also keeping your living environment clean. Keep your hands away from your eyes, nose and mouth, and make sure that you always get plenty of rest to strengthen your immune system.
Eating a healthy well balanced diet is imperative, and this means eating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grain breads and cereals, and drinking enough water, at least six to eight glasses a day.
