Dr. Rauba – On Saving Colds: Two Medicines Everyone Must Have In A Pharmacy

Living in Lithuania is unlikely to completely prevent these diseases, so it’s good to be prepared if they do occur. We spoke with the Otolaryngology Center of the Vilnius University Hospital Santara Clinics about what would be worth having in a home pharmacy to help us recover from upper respiratory infections and more importantly, what can help strengthen the body so that we can get them as little as possible. and Darius Rauba, Doctor of Medical Sciences at the Baltic American Clinic and Doctor of Medical Sciences.

How to strengthen the body?

Often, people try to treat the symptoms of colds with various home remedies: warming feet in hot water, putting hot potatoes in the nose, breathing steam. Unfortunately, its effectiveness is not scientifically justified. Therefore, we agreed with Dr. Rauba to discuss only those measures that have been scientifically proven to work.

One of the scientifically based measures is vitamin C, which, according to the doctor, is useful both in case of illness and for prophylaxis to protect against the disease, especially if everyone sneezes or sneezes, and you start to feel that the virus is catching on its own.

“There have been scientific articles that show that the prophylactic use of vitamin C reduces the risk of developing the disease by almost 50% compared to those who do not have it”, compared the interlocutor.

The doctor recommended the use of liposomal vitamin C, which, although more expensive, is more effective because it is placed in fatty microspheres. The intestine absorbs more of the vitamin C in the fat layers than the water soluble, much of which is excreted in the urine.

“Simple vitamin C can also be used, but its concentration in the blood will still be significantly lower,” Rauba explained.

Vitamin C is beneficial because it strengthens the immune system, cellular activity. In addition, it participates in the synthesis of collagen, which is important for the walls of our blood vessels.

“Usually during a viral infection, bleeding from the nose starts because there is inflammation in the mucous membranes and the fragility of the walls of the blood vessels is enlarged, the small capillaries break and bruises appear everywhere. Vitamin C helps collagen and strengthens blood vessels, “explained the doctor.

In case of illness, the doctor recommended increasing the dose of vitamin C.

Dr. D. Rauba has also recommended the use of vitamin D, which has been shown to be lacking in almost everyone in our climate zone, unless we only get more in the summer, when it’s sunny.

“I would take a prophylactic dose of it in the cold season, especially if the disease is recovering, even almost constantly, because vitamin D greatly strengthens the immune system,” said the interlocutor.

It is also helpful to consume fish oil, especially omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Two of them, according to the doctor, the body does not produce itself. We should get them with food: seafood, fresh fish. But Lithuanians eat a lot of seafood.

“Fish oil is also the key to controlling inflammation. Polyunsaturated fatty acids reduce any inflammation ”, explained the doctor.

Essential in each kit: paracetamol and ibuprofen

D. Rauba recommended that all home pharmacies have paracetamol or ibuprofen medications that relieve pain and fever. Because when you get sick, it doesn’t matter to whom, an adult or a child, you must first reduce the pain caused by the disease.

“How many parents bring to the hospital a child who screams in the middle of the night, at two or three, because his ear hurts. It would be better to give that child ibuprofen to drink and it will not hurt his ear, at least until he falls asleep in the morning, and then, if the temperature continues to rise, it will not improve, he can take the doctor, “the doctor advised.

The interlocutor advised that both medications, paracetamol and ibuprofen, are always available at home. Ibuprofen will save you if you have a headache, toothache, or a woman having a painful period, and paracetamol will help you if the temperature rises.

“Here are the two medications that everyone should have at home because they will reduce pain. After all, when we get sick, pain bothers us more.

It says if you have a sore throat, drink plenty of fluids, tea. But, for example, if you have acute angina, you will have difficulty even swallowing water because it hurts so much. In this case, do not drink water, intoxication increases, and the disease is much more difficult to transmit.

It doesn’t matter if your sinuses or throat hurt, it’s important that it hurts, because when it hurts, you don’t want anything else, “said Dr. D. Rauba.

First aid for the nose

The pharmacy should also have anemizing nasal drops that will be helpful if you have a runny nose. This will make it easier to breathe and make your runny nose go to sleep.

“Only the drops should not be used for more than 2-3 weeks, otherwise you can get used to them. I have had several patients who can no longer live without them. Sometimes surgery is even needed to get rid of those drugs.

But in the first days it is especially important to use anemic drops, because otherwise you do not sleep, you get tired, you do not breathe. Even more so if you have a stuffy nose, you won’t even wash it with seawater, ”explained the interlocutor.

Washing the nose is also useful: either sea water bought at the pharmacy or boiled with salt and iodine. Such washing significantly reduces the amount of virus in the nasal mucosa.

“It is scientifically proven that in the case of any viral infection of the upper respiratory tract, the higher the dose of the virus received, the more present in the nasal and oral mucosa, the more serious the form of the disease. .

Nasal washing significantly reduces the amount of virus and makes it much easier to get sick. In addition, it hydrates the nasal mucosa, which is also very important. If the nose is dry, especially when the environment is dry, during the hot season, then the surface of the mucosa breaks down and it is much easier for viruses or bacteria to penetrate it, ”said Dr. D. Rauba .

The throat is better protected with sprays.

The throat should also contain medications to relieve sore throats. One option is fools.

“The composition of all the suckers is the same. One of its active ingredients is chlorhexidine or another drug that acts against bacteria and viruses, and the second is usually some type of analgesic.

Sucking on the tablets slightly reduces the amount of viral bacteria in the throat and causes some pain. Only when you suck in the medicine, some of the healing substances do not reach the back wall of the pharynx, the tonsils themselves, where there are more bacteria, because there is lymphoid tissue (bags) to which they can adhere. In this case, it would be better, especially in the case of inflammation of the posterior pharyngeal wall when swallowing, or tonsillitis – aerosol preparations. They also have an anti-inflammatory analgesic effect ”, explained the interlocutor.

According to Dr. D. Rauba, these can be sprays of plant origin, composed of 4-5 herbs that reduce inflammation and cover the entire surface with a greasy film that protects against a higher dose of viruses and bacteria so that they do not adhere to the mucosa.

A sore throat can also be rinsed away with various rinse agents that we use for dental care; they have an antibacterial effect. It is useful to rinse your throat with a saline solution, which you can prepare by adding a teaspoon of salt to a 200 ml glass of water (preferably boiled).

“Rinsing the throat will again remove some of the pathogen. In addition, salt has an astringent anti-inflammatory effect ”, said the doctor.

Tips for people with allergies

Doctor D. Rauba for people with allergies, bronchial asthma or allergic rhinitis, also has antiallergic drugs.

“For them, the mucous membrane is already swollen, slightly damaged, and if the virus sticks, it becomes even more difficult with the airways and breathing through the nose. These patients are very good with topical allergy medications or even with Topical hormonal medications are, of course, prescribed, but they are especially effective in preventing a runny nose from turning into sinusitis or developing any type of bronchial asthma attack.

This is one of the main remedies for allergy sufferers. Topical anti-inflammatory (non-astringent) nasal medications, which reduce nasal swelling, should be used in the first few days, ”advised Dr. D. Rauba.

Don’t forget the stomach

The interlocutor recommended not to forget about medications for heartburn. It is said that when the cold is accompanied by increased heartburn or heartburn, which is suffered by eating the wrong food or eating at night, before eating, the situation only worsens. In such cases, at night, stomach acids rise to the upper respiratory tract, even to the nose, where everything burns.

“This creates a kind of micro-inflammation in the mucous membranes of the nose and mouth. So it is much easier for the virus or bacteria to penetrate the damaged mucosa.

Also, when we are sick, we start to eat vitamin C, ginger, many other products that are more acidic, which also causes heartburn and heartburn begins. In such cases, medications that prevent increased stomach acids can be taken in the morning or in the evening before eating. It is true that this should not be done prophylactically, “warned the doctor.

Dr. D. Rauba recommended not to forget about colds and herbal teas that promote fever, sweating, improve respiration and increase fluid levels in the blood, which is no less important because the virus causes the blood clotting system to break down and risk of clots.