It’s back to work or school after a very long weekend of Chinese New Year celebrations, a rather stressful point of time as we attempt to readapt and deal with work that has piled up over the holidays. Contributing to post-holiday blues are ailments like cough and sore throats that prey on us while we let our guard down with the feasting and late nights. The erratic weather isn’t helping matters.
According
to a news report on Channel News Asia, clinics saw a spark in patient load on
Wednesday. Upper respiratory tract infections including cough and sore
throat are among the most commonly treated ones.
The symptoms of cough and sore throat are easily identified.
They usually start off with itchy dry throats, some phlegm and a bit of
coughing. In the early stage, cough and sore throat can actually be prevented
from escalating, and you can avoid a visit to the doctor and his nasty
sleep-inducing cough syrup if you take the right steps to care for your health
(Of course, if you need an MC, that’s another story).
Cough and sore throat are caused by the drying New Year
goodies and alcohol, rich, heaty foods, and lack of rest and exercise. It is
essential to get back to your daily
routine of getting up early and going to bed early to ensure that if you
have ample amount of sleep. Getting up early is probably no issue for those who
have work and school. For those who plan to do late nights to finish your work
from over the holidays, bear in mind that working with a tired mind reduces productivity and may lead to more mistakes in your work, slowing you down instead.
Drink lots of water
throughout the day to replenish your body fluids, and soothe your throat. Avoid cold water and
soft drinks as these could irritate your throat and aggravate your cough. Warm
water is best for your throat, or at the very least, go with water at normal
temperature.
Dislike the tastelessness of water? Whether you prefer
Western or Chinese medical remedies, almost everyone who has tried the lemon honey water home remedy would
agree that it works for throat discomforts.
Honey helps because it has antibiotic properties. It
releases hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), an antibacterial, antimicrobial, and
antiseptic compound, disinfecting the infected area and killing germs. Before
antibiotic was invented, honey was used as an antiseptic on wounds to prevent
infection and hasten healing. It was even used as medicine for other ailments,
including diarrhoea, stomach upset, and of course, coughs and sore throats.
Lemon is also an antiseptic, and taste-wise, it complements the sweetness of
honey.
Best of all, the recipe is very simple. Fill a mug with water. Stir
in a table spoon of honey and heat it in the microwave for about one and a half
minutes. Remove the mug and stir in a teaspoon of freshly squeezed lemon. You
can drink it immediately!
Warning: If the sick
person is diabetic, regular honey may be detrimental to his condition. Be sure
to choose organic honey instead. Honey should also not be consumed by babies
below one year old. Honey may contain spores of a bacterium that can grow in
the baby’s immature digestive system, causing infant botulism which is a fatal
illness.
Another fuss-free method to supplement this home remedy is
to gargle with warm salt water a few
times a day. Salt is a natural disinfectant and it can help to reduce the germs
in your mouth.
Ginger tea also
brings quick relief to coughing symptoms. While it may be tedious to prepare it
from fresh ginger, traditional Chinese medical halls sell them ready-made, and
supermarkets sell instant ginger tea in the form of powder and teabags.
Bear in mind that depending on the severity of your cough or
sore throat, such home remedies may have limited effects. If your condition is
serious or does not improve, you will still need to seek medical treatment.
Last but not least, abstain
from heaty New Year goodies like shrimp crackers and bak kwa until your throat
gets better, and when it does, consume these goodies with lots of water and
ample rest!
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