1. Layer up and Wrap a Scarf
As the weather turns cold, and the temperature drops, it's easy to catch a cold if your body isn't warm enough, leading to throat inflammation.
Therefore, on frosty days, keeping your throat warm involves wearing multiple layers and especially wrapping a warm scarf to shield your throat from the chill.
2. Avoid Consuming Cold Foods and Drinks
Indulging in ice cream or sipping cold water on days with dropping temperatures can result in your throat getting infected, swollen, and sore. Hence, restrict the intake of cold drinks and foods during chilly weather.
Opt for warm water instead of cold to enhance blood circulation in the throat (37 – 45 degrees Celsius). This promotes effective activity of the throat mucous membranes, boosting the immune system and reducing the risk of harmful agent invasion.
3. Remember to Wear a Mask When Going Out
Protecting your nose is an effective way to keep your throat warm. Since the nose and throat are closely related, a cold in the nose can lead to a runny nose. In such cases, nasal mucus accumulates in the throat, causing throat discomfort.
Therefore, when venturing out on chilly days, wearing a mask is essential to keep your nose warm and to avoid inhaling polluted dust.
4. Pay Attention to Clean Oral Hygiene
Poor oral hygiene leads to the presence of bacteria causing throat pain. Additionally, do not overlook cleaning your toothbrush by soaking it in warm water before brushing in the morning to eliminate attached bacteria.
5. Rinse Mouth with Salt Water
Rinsing your mouth with salt water helps alleviate symptoms of common cold, reduces the risk of respiratory infection, supports relief from sore throat, minimizes throat irritation, balances the pH of mucous membranes, and the slimy layer on the throat mucous membrane. Due to its alkalizing effect, saltwater increases the pH in the mouth, preventing the proliferation of bacteria.
6. Supplement Vitamins for the Body
In cold weather, besides keeping your body warm by wearing warm clothes, you need to supplement foods rich in vitamins and nutrients to boost immunity and prevent your body from catching a cold.
Especially for respiratory health, it's essential to include foods high in vitamin A. Vitamin A enhances the mucosal epithelial cells of the respiratory system, increasing respiratory mucous fluid. This mucous fluid prevents the attack of viruses and bacteria.
Foods rich in vitamin A include dark green vegetables, red, yellow fruits such as papaya, watermelon, pomegranate, tomatoes, red spinach, grapefruit, orange, lemon...
In addition, consider consuming foods with warm properties, such as ginger stewed beef, and incorporate antibiotics-rich foods and spices like garlic and turmeric to keep your body warm.
7. Limit the Use of Stimulants
Some believe that alcohol can help keep the body warm; however, all alcoholic beverages are detrimental to health. Consuming excessive alcohol and drinks with alcohol can irritate the throat mucosa, leading to increased secretion of mucus in the throat.
Additionally, alcohol consumption may result in increased phlegm production in the throat. Prolonged exposure to this condition can lead to inflammation and swelling of the mucosa.
Above are useful ways to keep your throat warm as compiled by Mytour. We hope these methods will help you maintain good health and prevent catching a cold when temperatures drop.