A doctor has issued advice for people suffering with this ‘brutal’ cold that’s sweeping the UK.
Brits say they’ve been suffering from a nasty virus which is leaving them ‘bed-bound’ for weeks and experiencing grim symptoms including fevers, blocked noses and extreme fatigue.
Yep, while the festive season might be coming up, it’s also the less happy cold and flu season.
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And I hate to say it, but the UKHSA dashboard also shows that the most common viral illness at the moment is Covid-19 and doctors advise taking a test if you feel like your cold is a little worse than normal.
The common cold is also known as Rhinovirus and each winter there’s about 20-30 strains of it spreading across the country.
Asda Online Doctor GP, Dr Babak Ashrafi told LADbible: “Symptoms can vary from more minor things such as a tickly cough or a runny nose, to more severe symptoms like a fever, headaches, blocked sinuses and fatigue.
“It’s perfectly natural for a virus to increase in severity from time to time – a virus wants to spread, so it’s normal to see new strains cause more symptoms that help it do that, such as coughing and sneezing.”
And as Brits say they’re getting struck down by a cold this year, the doctor says that they’re ‘not too sure why this year’s common cold is so bad’.
“But may be a result of our immune systems still building back up after lockdown when we were exposed to fewer infections,” he explains.
“New studies have also shown that 1 in 5 people typically suffer from long-term symptoms from colds that previously went unrecognised.”
Dr Ashrafi says colds are typically passed on by children due to their ‘less mature immune systems’ and their proximity to other kids.
“Generally though, we’re all more likely to catch and pass on colds during cold temperatures."
Adding: "Rhinovirus spreads more efficiently inside the nose when it’s cold, leading to an increase in common illnesses. Unless you’re immunocompromised, you should recover within a few weeks.”
And the GP has advice for those suffering from a cough or cold this winter, recommending visiting ‘your local pharmacy for painkillers like paracetamol or ibuprofen, decongestant sprays for blocked noses and vitamin D supplements to boost your immunity if you need to’.
But he adds: “If your symptoms persist for more than three weeks, get dramatically worse or if you’re concerned that a particular cold is worse than normal, consider consulting a GP.”
If you are unlucky enough to catch a cold this winter, then NHS recommend getting plenty of rest and sleep, keeping hydrated and gargling salt water to soothe a sore throat.
Stay healthy lads.
Jess Battison