How to Fight the Worst of Colds

I’ve been through the misery of being sick in Japan almost every winter, so here are the tips that help me survive every time and can improve the symptoms of your cold no matter where you live.

Making a Survival Box

It’s most important to prepare yourself for colds before they even happen because when they do you’ll be too weak to think let alone shop for what you need. Get out that checklist and let’s go shopping.

Here are some great things to put in your survival box:

Pocket tissues (For on the go and at work)
Boxed tissue (For at home and on your desk)
Cough drops (The best flavors and ingredients are ginger (anti-inflammatory), vitamin C (immune boosters), mint (anti-inflammatory & cooling), honey (keeps your throat moist))
Basic cold medicine from a drugstore (If overseas have a friend who can speak the language help you find the right medicine)
Vitamin C and ginger products (I prefer ginger powder and tea you can drink because it’s easy on the stomach. Vitamin C also comes in chewable tablets if you have a sensitive stomach like mine and can’t take the pills)
Bottled orange juice (These are less likely to expire so soon compared to carton type juices)
Yutanpo (For when you get the chills or need extra heat. Just fill with hot water, put a cover on it and stick it under your blankets. Just be sure not to burn yourself! Works well for cramps too ladies!)
Canned/packaged soups or instant ramen (While these aren’t the most nutritious, if you’re having a hard time eating anything they work miracles on an upset stomach and are easy to cook)
Sea salt (Add a little bit to warm water and gargle two times a day to prevent bacteria from reaching your tonsils and easing a sore throat)
Lemon juice and honey (It really does work. Just add to warm water and drink often for an extra dose of vitamin C and the honey coats your throat so it doesn’t hurt as much)
A humidifier (Since moving to Japan I’ve never felt such dryness in the air. A humidifier will help ease sore throats and keep your nasal passages clear)

Prevention methods

Nothing is more important than lessening a cold’s symptoms by being exposed to a weaker amount of the virus. Remember that the local people have been exposed to these strains of colds their entire lives building up immunities just like you have in your own country with a different set of colds. You might get lucky and it’s the same strain, but if not it’ll hit you harder than usual because you have no immunities built up yet. Follow these prevention tips to help lessen the brutality of your cold.

Dispose of your mask daily as it carries bacteria on the inside and out. You’ll get less sinus infections too.
Wash hands with soap and alcohol for a double dose of cleaning. Wash before and after you use toilets at work and after every class especially before eating.
Drink water regularly to flush out bacteria and feel free to add some lemon juice for a Vitamin C boost.
Gargle at least twice a day with sea salt water to kill bacteria forming in your throat and tonsils.
If you have a sore in your nose, mouth, or have a scratchy throat protect yourself even more as these are an easy trap for the bacteria to start growing.
Drink orange juice, ginger, or other immune boosting drinks often. You can also take supplements of vitamin C, ginger, and multivitamins.
When people are coughing and sneezing at work, especially when they don’t practice good prevention hygiene of their cold, be sure to take care when using their things for at least two weeks after the worst of their cold can’t be passed. Also be sure to wash your clothes and take a shower when you get home since their germs will be riding on surfaces for at least the next 48 hours. Distance yourself from them when they demonstrate these behaviors and avoid using what they’ve touched if possible.
While at work don’t touch your eyes, nose, or mouth to avoid directly depositing the cold into your body and wash before you must do so. This especially includes when you are about to eat, blow your noses, or drink from your bottle.

Fighting the cold

Once your survival box is made and you’ve done all you can to prevent the cold and unfortunately you’ve still caught one, here’s some great tips to alleviate the symptoms of your cold that have helped me through the worst of mine.

Always sit up when sleeping. For the times when you have a bad cough or nasal blockage it’s good to sit up so that it can properly drain from your throat and nasal passages.
Having any deep chest coughing at night or cough attacks, immediately take a steamy shower and then a long bath to clear out the blockage in your nasal and chest passageways which is the main cause of this horrible symptom.
Throughout the day drink warm tea and honey lemon drinks to keep the cough down and ease sore throats and also drink a lot of water to stay hydrated.
Switch up your cough drops so they don’t make your stomach sick. I think mint, ginger, lemon, honey, and medicinal drops work the best for your cough.
Eat something. Don’t skip meals because you’re too tired it will make fighting your cold much more difficult. Prepare something from your survival box that is easy and take your time eating. If it takes two hours to eat a simple meal that’s ok!
Plug in the humidifier to create an environment that is stable in moisture. Be sure to clean your humidifier often as it will put mold into the air if you don’t. Some also have the function of using essential oils, if that’s the case, you can use ones such as eucalyptus to clear your breathing.
If you have the runny nose type of cold dab the tissue on your nose don’t wipe or it’ll become raw. Apply moisturizer as often as necessary. Funny as it sounds, stuffing a piece of twisted tissue just at the nostrils entrance will help catch the flow and prevent any painful sores from occurring. Replace often. I’ve seen many students do this and hide it in their mask. Hilarious I thought! I tried it… and it works.
Take the time off of work to rest. Gaining those few extra days, especially when your cold is at its worst, can really help you through it. You won’t have to hide your coughs or spread the cold to others. Everyone will appreciate it especially your body!

So you’ve made it through the worst of your cold congratulations, but it’s not over yet! Be careful of relapses where you can easily get sick again soon after. Your immune system is just starting over and will be brought back to complete health but it takes awhile. Start eating healthier foods and maintaining your prevention routine while keeping a high dose of Vitamin C and nutrients to prevent yourself from getting another one. My first time in Japan I relapsed three times and was sick for over three months and ended up with lung damage. Trust me! Take care of your body and when you start to recover don’t push yourself. Get a lot of rest, eat healthy, and stay aware of those showing signs of a cold to avoid getting sick.

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