Can I take a shower when I have a cold?

Recently, a new round of colds has begun. Many children and the elderly have been infected. Many patients will sweat a lot, making their bodies sticky. So a question arises, can you take a bath during a cold?

1. Symptoms of a cold:

The common cold has inflammation of the nasopharyngeal mucosa as the main clinical manifestation, including cough, runny nose, sneezing, nasal congestion and other symptoms.

The early symptoms are mainly nasal inflammation, which may include sneezing, nasal congestion, and clear nasal discharge.

In the progressive stage, there may be dry throat, itchy or burning sensation in the throat, clear nasal discharge turning into turbid nasal discharge, and sometimes hearing loss due to Eustachian tube inflammation. Symptoms such as tearing, dull sense of taste, shortness of breath, cough, and small amounts of sputum may also occur.

In severe cases, in addition to fever, systemic symptoms such as fatigue, chills, sore limbs, headache, and loss of appetite may occur.

2. Benefits of taking a bath during a cold:

Colds are mainly caused by the invasion of pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, mycoplasma, chlamydia, and rickettsia, which cause an inflammatory reaction in the upper respiratory tract mucosa. At this time, the body's immune system is active, and it may be accompanied by coughing, sputum, nasal congestion, and runny nose. At this time, you can take a hot bath to excrete metabolic waste from the body. It can also promote the expansion of capillaries throughout the body, speed up metabolism, and have a certain effect on promoting recovery from colds. Bathing itself can stimulate the acupuncture points and meridians throughout the body, which can improve the body's immunity and the ability to resist pathogens.

3. Things to note when taking a bath during a cold:

If you take a hot bath when you have a cold, your pores will expand, making it easier for the cold to invade your body, further aggravating the symptoms of the cold. Bathing is also an energy-consuming process. During this process, the body will sweat a lot. If you do not replenish water in time, it may cause dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, etc., which is not conducive to the recovery of the cold. Therefore, you should dry yourself in time after bathing, keep warm, and replenish water appropriately.

Tips: After catching a cold, you should take more rest and drink more water. Eat more fresh vegetables and fruits, and eat less spicy and irritating foods. If you have a fever, you should seek medical attention in time. Finally, as the New Year is approaching, I hope everyone will wear a mask when going out, take precautions, and have a happy and healthy New Year.