Can a cold be eliminated through perspiration?
The common cold is a prevalent virus that affects many individuals each year. The most effective strategies for recovery include rest, adequate sleep, hydration, and symptom management. However, the role of exercise, steam therapy, and sauna use during a cold remains a topic of discussion.
Exercise During a Cold
Whether to exercise during a cold depends on symptom severity and location. Light to moderate exercise, such as walking or gentle yoga, may be safe if symptoms are above the neck (like a mild sore throat or runny nose). However, intense exercise while sick can increase risks of dehydration, dizziness, and may impede recovery. No evidence shows that exercising speeds recovery from a cold—it is mostly about how you feel and the symptoms present.
Steam Therapy and Sauna Use
Steam therapy and sauna use are popular for relief of cold symptoms, such as nasal congestion, because the warm, moist air can help loosen mucus. However, no clinical evidence clearly shows that steam or sauna sessions reduce the duration of a common cold or speed immune recovery. They mainly provide symptomatic relief rather than affecting virus recovery directly.
Hot steam can help relieve sinus pain and inflammation, which may assist in easing cold symptoms such as a runny nose and congestion. Sweating causes a person to lose fluids, and it is important for them to drink water, juice, or other liquids to replace the loss from sweating.
General Recovery from Common Cold
In summary, exercise during a cold can be done cautiously if symptoms are mild and above the neck but does not speed recovery. Steam and sauna therapies help alleviate symptoms but don’t shorten the illness itself. Rest, hydration, and sleep remain the best-supported methods to recover from a cold.
Avoiding strenuous activity and ensuring good sleep quality are important to support the immune system. Over-the-counter medications are available to help manage symptoms of a cold. To recover from a cold, a person can take several steps at home such as drinking a lot of water, using saline or nasal drops, resting, breathing in steam, using a humidifier, using lozenges or cough drops for adults, and using honey for sore throats in adults and children over the age of 1 year.
It is essential to remember that there is currently no cure for a cold, and the most common cause of the common cold is the rhinovirus. A person should listen to their body and rest if they are tired or worn out. Exercise can temporarily relieve some symptoms of a cold, but experts suggest limiting activities and taking necessary rest.
A 2017 study found that exposure to humid, warm air, such as in a sauna, has no effect on a cold. A person should avoid exercise if they have certain symptoms such as fever, ear pain or aches, vomiting, diarrhea, symptoms in the chest like trouble breathing or coughing.
In conclusion, while exercise, steam therapy, and sauna use may provide some relief from cold symptoms, they do not significantly impact the duration of the illness. The best approach to recovering from a cold remains rest, hydration, and symptom management.
[1] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Common Cold. Retrieved 23 March 2023, from https://www.cdc.gov/features/rhinovirus/index.html [2] American Lung Association. (2021). Exercise and Your Lungs. Retrieved 23 March 2023, from https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/exercise-and-your-lungs [3] National Health Service. (2021). Common Cold. Retrieved 23 March 2023, from https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/common-cold/ [4] Mayo Clinic. (2021). Common Cold. Retrieved 23 March 2023, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/common-cold/symptoms-causes/syc-20350973 [5] National Institutes of Health. (2021). Common Cold. Retrieved 23 March 2023, from https://medlineplus.gov/commoncold.html
- Mental-health practices, such as stress reduction techniques and relaxation therapies, can also be beneficial during a cold as they help manage anxiety and stress related to the illness.
- A healthy diet rich in nutrients and vitamins, particularly vitamin C, can boost the immune system and help the body fight off a cold.
- Science continues to explore the potential use of certain supplements and natural remedies, like zinc and echinacea, for treating the common cold, although their effectiveness is still debated in the health-and-wellness community.
- Physical fitness and exercise can play a role in maintaining overall health and preventing frequent colds, as regular exercise strengthens the immune system and promotes mental resilience, but it is important to consider the recommendations for exercise during a cold as alluded earlier.
