These days, colds are really severe—I underestimated them and am suffering badly!!

Since three days ago, I have been noticing abnormal signals in my body. I thought it might be muscle pain caused by overworking and accumulated fatigue, so I took a painkiller and I think it will be okay.

Did I let my guard down? The symptoms suddenly hit me in less than half a day!!!

 

My throat is swollen, and it hurts so much that I can't even swallow saliva.

Runny nose dripping like a faucet...

Sneezing nonstop, along with a headache and ear pain

I was worried, thinking "Could I also have the flu?" and immediately went to the hospital after work (fortunately, I finished at 4 PM). There were 12 people waiting.

Since the end of work is earlier than expected and less busy than in the morning, but after work hours it gets busier, the nurses are very busy with consultation and inquiry calls.

Waiting time is one hour, consultation is 5 minutes? Hahaha

Well, I guess that's just how it is now!!

There are many prescription medications received according to the symptoms.

Is it the United States? The reason for the high medical costs is one factor, but they say there is no such thing as cold medicine. However, Korea, our Korea, is said to have a particularly large variety of cold medicines.

While writing this article, I realized that colds are one of the many illnesses humans frequently encounter, and there are numerous folk remedies for them. Traditionally in Korea, people have eaten pear syrup made by piercing a whole peppercorn into a pear slice and boiling it. The most bizarre remedy, however, was from Japan's folk practices, which involved wrapping a leek around the neck or inserting a leek into the anus.

I used to think colds were no big deal, but now that I'm seriously suffering, I started to wonder why there aren't any medicines or methods to quickly cure a cold!

The common cold is a general term for acute upper respiratory infections caused mainly by various types of viral infections, leading to symptoms such as cough, sore throat, headache, runny nose, and nasal congestion due to inflammatory responses.

It is one of the most common respiratory diseases in humans, caused by many pathogens and various strains. In modern humans, the symptoms are not fatal and recovery is relatively easy due to immune strength, but it is difficult to target specific strains, so no treatments or vaccines have been developed. Instead, the characteristic approach is to wait until the body's immune system fully recovers, often by boosting immunity. When symptoms are severe, the only additional measure is to take cold medicine designed to alleviate symptoms (symptomatic therapy).

The reason why it can't be fixed in one go

The various pathogens that directly cause the common cold, such as bacteria and viruses, are extremely diverse, making it very difficult to identify the specific type of pathogen!!!

(There are over 100 known viruses) Unlike seasonal influenza, there are many different types, making it difficult to identify the specific pathogen. Common illnesses, so we might think we know the cause, but colds that defy common sense!!! They are truly illnesses that can cause serious trouble if ignored!!

Overall, symptoms usually last about a week, and rarely extend beyond two weeks, but once it goes beyond that, it can be quite concerning.

Since there are various pathogens causing colds for which there are no specific treatments or vaccines, it seems best to recover quickly.

To recover quickly from a cold, it is most effective to stay warm and consume foods rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, as well as to get enough rest. Cold medicines can help alleviate symptoms, but fighting the pathogens that cause colds is entirely the body's immune system's job. As seen with the common cold, which refers to a cold in English-speaking countries, there is a perception that it is directly related to weakness, and research also suggests a correlation between colds and immune strength.

The main transmission route of the virus is most commonly through contact from hand to hand. It can also be transmitted via droplets or through the air.

There is a saying: "If you go to the hospital for a cold, it will recover in 7 days; if you don't go, it will recover in a week." This phrase stems from the fact that treatment is often based on symptomatic relief rather than targeting the fundamental pathogen, and in cases without underlying conditions, natural healing without any special therapy is possible. Unlike in the United States, Koreans tend to visit the hospital and take medication even for initial colds because the medical expenses are not a significant burden. As a result, they can recover more comfortably within the same period through active treatment, which is why going to the hospital is common.

Since I have to work in an office, I did that.

 

 

Summary of the text:

If virus infection is the cause of the common cold, can't we prevent it by developing a vaccine for the cold?

The cold virus is not caused by a specific virus (e.g., influenza, coronavirus, etc.), but rather by many different types, and due to the nature of viruses, mutations occur very rapidly, making the development of a vaccine largely meaningless. Additionally, the symptoms are usually not severe, and over time, the body's immune system can naturally heal most cases, making the disease relatively mild. There is no reason to invest enormous costs and time into developing a vaccine. This also explains why the mistaken belief that the flu vaccine can prevent colds has arisen. Cold and influenza are fundamentally different illnesses.

 

I thought that the best way to prevent colds is to be meticulous about personal hygiene.

If we consider the medication packet, I took it three times: last night, this morning, and lunch, so it's a day's worth, but it definitely seems to be effective.

Although it's said to be naturally cured, these days cold symptoms are very severe even if it's not the flu. It's also true that I need to boost my immunity.

Make sure to keep warm during the winter, don't neglect exercise, and try to develop the habit of drinking water frequently.

 

I bought a flu test kit during the holiday to check if I might harm my family, but I haven't told anyone.

There's someone in my family who goes to the library, so I can't help but do it.

Fortunately, it was a voice.

It's hard to wait for a cold to naturally get better.