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Dr Gérald Kierzek (Medical Director of Doctissimo)
The first colds of winter appear. How to treat them without medication? This is the question that Doctissimo asked Dr. Gérald Kierzek, emergency physician and medical director. He gives us all his advice.
You have undoubtedly heard about it a few weeks ago: the National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products (ANSM) formally recommended against the use of cold medications. So how can we treat ourselves without treatment? The answers of Dr Gérald Kierzek.
Dr. Kierzek begins by quoting his grandmother. “She always said: a cold can be cured in two weeks with medication or in fifteen days without it.“All joking aside, the saying is clear: treatments for a cold are not helpful.”Other actions, on the contrary, will help alleviate cold symptoms: these are simple, natural methods, which have also proven their worth. assures the doctor.
Rest, hydrate, eat well…
The first thing to do to recover from a cold is to get some rest. “This allows the body to recover better. explains Gérald Kierzek. It also encourages you to hydrate well. “This also helps to thin out nasal secretions. You can drink water, but also broths or herbal teas, for example“. In addition to this, focus on a balanced diet. “It’s the best way to stock up on vitamins to boost your immunity.” he says again.
Paracetamol, to relieve fever and body aches
In addition, to relieve his flu-like illness – generally aches and fever – the doctor recommends taking paracetamol. “It is the medication with the fewest contraindications. You should still seek advice from your doctor or pharmacist for certain people who take other medications, but in the vast majority of cases, there are little risk of interaction”. The dosage is 3 grams per day in adults (distributed by taking one gram with each meal, every four to six hours, therefore) and 60 mg per day and per kg in children, also to be given in several takes, spaced six hours apart.
Unblocking your nose with saline solutions
Finally, to make breathing easier, Dr. Gérald Kierzek recommends preparing your saline solution for the nose or using a product sold in pharmacies. “These natural solutions, based on salt water, disinfect the nose and help unclog it“The doctor also recommends humidifying the surrounding air and gargling with salt water.”We avoid tobacco and to boost ourselves, we can take a little vitamin C or probiotics, but we know that all these food supplements sold in pharmacies are only moderately effective. he notes.
Finally, final advice from the doctor: “SIf your condition worsens, you experience difficulty breathing, high fever or chest pain, consult a doctor. And above all, don’t take antibiotics, they are not useful during a viral infection like the common cold.“.