BLOG CORNER: THE HIDDEN STING OF THE WINTER VIRUSES!
Almost everyone I know has been caught out with some of the many winter viruses and bugs which seem to be everywhere.
Coughs, tummy bugs, sore throats, headaches, colds and flu like symptoms seem to be knocking on everyone`s door and are very easily passed on. There are also many positive cases of Covid still around.
Some people take a few days sick leave from work whilst others struggle on and no doubt help to spread the viruses.
How long does a winter virus last?
Whilst unpleasant at the time, unless one has an underlying medical condition, recovery can vary from feeling back to normal within a few days, to having a cough which may linger for weeks.
There is no magic cure, and usually no need to visit a GP or A&E unless there are some complications, as little can be given to alleviate symptoms.
Plenty of rest, keeping warm and well hydrated, analgesia for headaches, salt and water gargles for sore throats, and the symptoms should start to disappear within a few days.
Some coughs can turn nasty and become a chest infection or even pneumonia which will require antibiotics. Breathing may be affected and a temperature present, but thankfully not every cough will turn out this way.
Others report an unexpected feeling of tiredness and exhaustion.
Why do we seem to have more winter bugs than ever?
As the saying goes, "By curing one problem we create another",
We move around much more than we used to, both in our own country and abroad, giving an opportumity to pick up a wide range of bacteria and viruses. We often don`t have much contact with a good flow of fresh air.
We live, work and are educated in hermetically sealed centrally heated buildings with little ventilation, allowing the perfect warm environment for cross infection and viral incubation.
Immune systems continue to be challenged, as they are under the constant attack of chemicals of all sorts both in the environment and in our daily lives including diet, so cannot do their job properly as the system is weakened.
We also medicate our bodies for every health issue, either through prescriptive drugs or over the counter ones.
Of course many medications are wonderful and are literally keeping people alive, while others help provide a better quality of life for many suffering from chronic diseases.
There are also new mutations and different viral strains which mimic other types such as those flu like and Covid like symptoms which seem so prevalent.
Personally, I have had a fairly mild attack of cough, headaches, runny nose and low energy levels.
The symptoms cleared after a few days and I felt I was on the mend.
However my old friend "fatigue" from a previous encounter decided to pay a visit, and out of the blue, the feelings of low energy and constant fatigue came back to haunt me.
Not so bad as before, but enough to make me stop in my tracks and give it time to pass.
Although wanting to sleep, my night time sleeping pattern was disrupted and when morning came around I felt utterly drained and exhausted.
However, I have given my body time to rest, have been eating good food, (protein, wholegrain, fruit and vegetables), sleeping when I have to and now feel some energy coming back.
Clearly I didn`t have a happy immune system and it was still quite vulnerable from my previous attack.
I also gave my brain a rest, as I felt that constant stimulation via screens and even reading were irritating the brain cells.
I have found that the "jangling" in my head has stopped and lack of concentration improved and I can do small amounts of work, such as this blog.
We have a long way to go to piece together the effects and links between bacteria, viruses, immune system, brain cells / thought processes and other organs of our body, as it is extremely complex.
Being aware that it is a complex system, and trying to look after the body and the brain, may help us cope with some of these unusual symptoms which may manifest themselves when least expected.
