Frequent colds in adults: possible causes, therapy

It is worth explaining what a cold is. The mucous membrane of the nasopharynx is a sensitive organ that reacts to any change in the usual temperature. When we go out into the cold, it reacts with mild swelling to prevent hypothermia. But if a person is in the cold for a long time, the swelling increases, a sore throat and nasal discharge may appear. This is the beginning of the cold process.

A significantly cooled body is more vulnerable to viruses. The person caught a cold, and the next morning - headache, fever, cough, runny nose. Viruses have already tried their best here. Therefore, the cold is considered globally, as part of ARVI. Among the viruses are adenoviruses, rhinoviruses, the well-known flu and many others.

Quite often, viral infection provokes the development of a bacterial infection. In this case, they speak of a complication of a viral disease. The body is weakened, the immune system is no longer strong enough to fight, and bacteria easily penetrate the body. In addition, dormant bacteria already present in the body wake up and begin their work.

Many people do not understand the difference between acute respiratory viral infections and acute respiratory infections - an acute respiratory disease. In fact, there is not much difference. It’s just that doctors prefer to diagnose ARVI when they are sure that the original causative agent of the infection is a virus. ARI is diagnosed when there is no certainty that the virus is to blame, and there is a suspicion of bacterial infection1.

Causes of colds in adults

The source of the disease is a sick person who spreads the infection further. However, the routes of infection are different. The most common route is airborne2. Next comes tactile infection, since viruses can remain on any object touched by the infected person.

It is worth noting that viruses tend to concentrate. This means that it is much easier for a healthy person to become infected indoors, rather than standing with a sick person “in the middle of the field.” Viruses reliably remain viable for several days, especially in an unventilated area2.

Once in the body, the virus begins to actively multiply, moving deeper and deeper. A person himself becomes a source of infection for other people. Especially for those who have problems with immunity, for the elderly, for children, for those who have already caught a cold or are sick with other diseases2.

How exactly does the virus manifest itself, and what stages does the disease go through? There are four main phases of infectious respiratory infection:

The pathogenic virus enters the body through the respiratory system and attaches to the cells of the mucous membranes. At this stage the person does not notice anything.
The pathogen enters the blood. The body feels the invasion, the immune system begins to work, symptoms of intoxication appear in the body - weakness, malaise, fever, etc.
The virus finds a place in the body where it is most comfortable and creates a focus of inflammation. At this stage, a person begins to have a cough, sore throat, severe runny nose and other symptoms.
The fourth stage marks the conclusion. Either the source of infection develops into a complication and another form of the disease, or the body copes with the virus. Recovery comes1.

Possible causes of colds

Infectious diseases are highly contagious. Viruses are transmitted by airborne droplets and contact, and bacteria can also remain on environmental objects. Their type can only be determined by the results of laboratory tests of blood and other material (nasal discharge).

The clinical picture of the disease does not develop in everyone and differs in level of severity. This is due to the functioning of the immune system and its ability to inactivate pathogenic microflora.

Infection can occur during the incubation period (the first 2 days after infection, sometimes more). Even if the patient has not yet shown the first signs of a cold, he poses a danger to others.

The role of immunity

In an adult, protective factors against pathogenic microorganisms are constantly at work. Any foreign protein is considered potentially dangerous and therefore activates reactions. Viruses, bacteria, parasites—immunity mechanisms are set up against them.

There are several levels of infection control. The first of these are phagocytes - blood cells that capture and then mechanically destroy microscopic pathogens. Next, humoral factors are included - immunoglobulins (antibodies). They react with microbial antigens, neutralizing them. If pathogenic bacteria or viruses enter healthy cells, the production of another immunity factor begins - interferons (they are found in some medications).

Symptoms of acute respiratory infections in adults

There are many symptoms for each individual viral and bacterial infection. But there are general signs of acute respiratory infections in adults, which can be used to judge the onset of the disease:

Runny nose. Everyone is familiar with a runny nose, during which it is difficult to breathe through the nose and there is copious discharge. Often the cause is a viral disease, but a bacterial infection is also possible against the background of a general weakening of the body. If you have a runny nose, rhinitis, sinusitis, or their complications are diagnosed.
Cough. The usual state. Cough varies in severity and is accompanied by pain or soreness. This is an extremely varied symptom in which laryngitis, bronchitis, tracheitis, as well as diseases of the larynx, trachea or bronchi can be diagnosed.
Temperature increase. Mild forms of colds can pass without fever, but this is not always good. The temperature shows that the immune system is fighting off invaders. But a temperature above 38ºC requires close attention from the patient and doctors. High fever is typical for influenza viruses.
General weakness and headache are a consequence of intoxication of the body and are very characteristic of a cold.

Viruses tend to invade a specific location in the body and develop there. The initial focus of infection may be in the mucous membrane of the nose or throat. This is where specific respiratory diseases originate - sinusitis, rhinitis, tracheitis, bronchitis, laryngitis, tonsillitis, pharyngitis and others1.

Poor immunity is the main cause of colds

The question remains, why does one person get sick, while his neighbor at his desk or seat on public transport remains healthy? It's all about immunity, its condition, readiness and performance.

For the development of a viral disease, three conditions are sufficient:

Contact with the virus or its carrier;
Penetration into the body and attachment of the virus (ARVI viruses settle on the nasopharyngeal mucosa);
Inability of the immune system to cope with it.

Immunity is the main protective barrier. It must prevent the penetration of viruses and bacteria, and when they penetrate, it must successfully cope on its own and better without outside help. Otherwise, the disease will visit the person too often. In such cases, the immune system definitely needs support.

What to do if you have frequent colds?

With constant ARVI, many ask the question: “I often catch a cold, what should I do?” Such diseases are not only unpleasant, but can also lead to complications. To prevent constant relapses, it is necessary, first of all, to “reconsider” your lifestyle and seriously engage in health promotion.

The following factors are subject to change:

Daily regime. A healthy person should sleep 7-8 hours a day. Moreover, you need to go to bed and get up at the same time. For example, sitting at the computer at midnight should be completely eliminated.
Nutrition. You should eat at least three times a day. In this case, meals must include all the necessary fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals and other microelements. Particular attention should be paid to fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs. Eating these products helps strengthen the immune system, which prevents frequent colds.
Activity. You should walk more in the fresh air and do exercises every day. This will not take much time, but will have a beneficial effect on the condition of the body. It is recommended to minimize the use of transport and spend more time on walking.
Hardening. Such events begin in the summer and are done every day. There are many methods of hardening: from dousing with cold water to walking barefoot. All of them have a good effect on strengthening the immune system.
Bad habits. You will need to completely stop smoking and drinking alcohol. Toxic substances contained in such products negatively affect the entire body.

The life of a modern person is too fast. Being too busy does not allow you to think seriously about your immunity. And even an adult does not take regular ARVI seriously. Therefore, if you often get colds, reconsider your lifestyle. After all, it is an attentive attitude towards yourself that will preserve your health for many years.

Treatment of acute respiratory infections in adults

Often, when you have a cold, there is a risk of complications. This is why diagnosing a cold is necessary. Typically, after diagnosing the symptoms of acute respiratory infections in adults, treatment includes drug therapy.

In the first days after illness, it is recommended to remain in bed. It is important to ventilate the room more often and reduce the ambient temperature to avoid spreading the virus and infecting others. With any virus, it is necessary to consume a large amount of fluid in order to quickly remove toxins from the body. If the immune system is in order, then it itself is able to cope with the disease, the main thing is not to interfere1.

In case of complications or dangerous viruses, such as influenza, the body requires medicinal support:

Sore throat is treated by gargling with special solutions, expectorants and emollients.
Cough is treated with expectorants, antitussives or emollients (depending on the type of cough). Let us note that such a popular folk remedy as “breathing over potatoes” is highly not recommended by experts, since there is a high probability of getting a burn to the mucous membrane. It can also be dangerous at elevated body temperatures.
At high temperatures, analgesics and NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) are prescribed.
To combat viruses, special antiviral drugs are used.
Immunostimulants are prescribed to help the immune system.
In case of bacterial infection, local antibacterial drugs are used.
For nasal congestion, vasoconstrictors and sea water preparations are recommended.
In especially severe cases, antibiotics are prescribed (under the strict supervision of a specialist).2

Causes

It often happens that adults simply do not have time to fully recover from a previous infectious disease and immediately fall ill with the next one. The rhythm of life dictates that you constantly be on the move, but if the disease is not cured in time, you can fall out of it for a long time. This is the most common mistake of all patients; it’s quicker to start doing things, but first of all you should take pity on your body.

The video shows the causes of frequent colds in adults:

Common causes of colds in adults are:

Intestinal dysfunction. It may contain many microbes that have a detrimental effect on the microflora of the organ. Frequent outbreaks of mass diseases occur in the winter, this is understandable, since everyone in a team sits in closed spaces that are very rarely ventilated, and if there is at least one person with a cold, he quickly transmits his germs to others. If he is in direct contact with other people, then their bodies accumulate pathogenic microbes that lower human immunity.
Insufficient protection during an epidemic. Some people, even knowing that many suffer from the flu or ARVI, hope that this will pass them by, the body is strong enough to resist the infection, and they are mistaken. The body’s perception of the disease depends on hygiene and compliance with basic rules of protection. During the peak of the epidemic, you need to protect yourself from stressful situations and excessive physical exertion. When exposed to stressful situations for a long time, the nervous and immune systems in the body are completely suppressed, which affects the functioning of many important organs and even blood vessels.
Decreased immunity. This system is able to resist any disease; it protects the body from infections. If a small amount of harmful bacteria gets into it, then the antibodies immediately cope with them; when exposed to them massively and constantly, the immune system does not have enough strength to eliminate them from the body. Immunity can decrease due to failure of organs such as the spleen, intestines, as well as blood and bone marrow. Its level is also affected by the presence of vitamins, stress and bad habits.
Lack of sleep. A full night's rest should be between 7 and 8 hours. This time is enough to fully restore your strength and greet the day with vigor the next morning. If a person cannot fall asleep or sleeps in fits and starts for several hours, then it is worth strictly reconsidering your daily routine and setting aside time for rest. If you have insomnia, it makes sense to consult a doctor so that he can prescribe an effective medicine. Perhaps these will be sedatives in the form of motherwort, hops, oregano or valerian. Relaxing baths and meditation before bed also help.
Bad habits. A partial attitude towards alcohol, frequent smoking breaks, eating unhealthy food - affects the condition of the capillaries and can disrupt blood flow. They suppress the immune system and do not allow it to fully fight infections, so alcohol and tobacco should be avoided at the first symptoms of a cold.
Age . The cold is considered a childhood disease; for adults it is fraught with complications. It is not for nothing that it is better to get over many childhood diseases earlier, because later they are accompanied by serious problems and are not so easy to cure. In old age, you need to take time for prevention and monitor your health, otherwise you may be too susceptible to colds.
Antibiotics . Any of them, according to research results, reduce immunity by more than 50%. Only a doctor can prescribe treatment with them; if there is hope of recovery without them, he will tell you so. You shouldn’t choose an active remedy for yourself; this can lead to side effects; even if a pharmacist recommended the medicine, he will not be able to accurately assess the condition, and popular remedies may help one person, but may not work on another.
Lack of movement . Sedentary work or the choice of such a life can lead to physical inactivity, and this disease threatens oxygen deficiency of organs, and those of them that are responsible for the state of the immune system. The respiratory organs become more susceptible to colds, which leads to an early illness from an infected patient.
Insufficient humidity in the room . It is important that a sufficient level of humidity is maintained in the room when the heating is operating during the cold period, otherwise the mucous membranes of the mouth and nose quickly dry out and cannot fully retain bacteria. Moreover, even dental diseases can affect the development of the disease.

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How to cure acute respiratory infections in adults

Colds can be treated with various means. But don't forget about immunity. To activate local immunity, the drug IRS ®19, containing bacterial lysates5, can be used.

IRS®19 has been used for many years in the treatment of colds, acute respiratory viral infections or acute respiratory infections. Bacterial lysates activate local immunity, thereby suppressing microorganisms on the mucous membranes of the respiratory system. It becomes harder for new viruses and bacteria to enter the body. The treatment time for colds is reduced when using IRS®194.

Treating colds correctly

Self-medication is a bad habit. Socrates said: “Health is not everything, but without health everything is nothing.” At the first symptoms of a cold, you should consult a doctor. Only a specialist can determine the nature of the disease and prescribe appropriate drugs: antiviral, antibacterial or antifungal. Taking antibiotics on your own will only cause harm. Such drugs are ineffective against viral infections. They kill beneficial intestinal microflora - an important component of the immune system.

Frequent colds in adults should be treated according to the recommendations of therapists. Recently, doctors have been opting for drugs with complex effects. These include the modern spray Derinat. It works in several directions:

actively fights pathogens: viruses, bacteria and fungi;
strengthens the body's natural defense mechanisms: cellular and humoral immunity;
restores damaged areas of the mucous membrane of the nasopharynx - a physiological barrier to pathogenic agents, preventing the addition of a secondary infection.

Prevention of colds in adults

Prevention is easier than cure - this expression is especially true for colds. It is possible to get off the list of people who are often sick. To do this, you need to keep your immune system in good shape, and then you can calmly smile at everyone who coughs.

To prevent colds, you should follow the same therapeutic recommendations:

Strengthen the immune system through physical exercise and hardening;
Keep your weight normal;
Always maintain hygiene: no one has canceled hand washing after going outside;
Ventilate the premises as often as possible and maintain a comfortable, slightly cool temperature.

An additional remedy in maintaining immunity and protecting against colds can be a medicine - nasal spray IRS®19. The bacterial lysates included in its composition stimulate the immune system to counteract respiratory infections3,5.