You might have seen in the news that the NHS is under pressure this winter but how does that affect you? It means that the demand for NHS services, like A&E and GP appointments, is high and waiting times can be long. The good news? Most common winter illnesses can be managed from the comfort of your own home.
Common cold symptoms to look out for:
- a blocked or runny nose
- sneezing
- a sore throat
- a hoarse voice
- a cough
- feeling tired and unwell
You may also have:
- a high temperature
- aching muscles
- a loss of taste and smell
- a feeling of pressure in your ears and face
How to bounce back faster
There’s no cure for a cold but there are ways you can manage your symptoms yourself:
- Stay hydrated. Keep sipping on water, herbal tea or hot squash with some honey and lemon.
- Eat well. You might not feel like eating but try to eat a balanced diet, including plenty of fruit and vegetables, to help you recover. Soup is always a sick day winner.
- Rest up. Give yourself time to recover, pushing through it might make things worse.
- Take medicine if needed. You can buy medicine for most common illnesses like a cough, cold, sore throat or earache at a pharmacy or supermarket.
- Get enough sleep. Your body recovers while you snooze. You might be more comfortable if you elevate your head at night with an extra pillow.
- Get some fresh air. While it’s not advisable to do any intense exercise, a short walk might help you to feel better and sleep better.
- Consider others. Wash your hands, bin those tissues and try to avoid close contact with others if you’re infectious.
You should start to feel better in one to two weeks.
Think Pharmacy first
Did you know pharmacies can treat you for common conditions? As well as offering general over the counter medicine for things like coughs and colds, they can offer prescription medication for the following conditions, without you needing to see a GP:
- impetigo
- infected insect bites
- sore throat
- sinusitis
- urinary tract infections (UTIs)
- shingles
Getting support
If you are unwell and need to see a doctor, King’s has its own NHS Health Centre which students can register for. Find out how to register online.
There’s also a Health Advisor for Mandarin Speaking Students (HAMSS) who can help with accessing healthcare and wellbeing services. Check out the video below, or our article How can the Health Advisor for Mandarin-Speaking Students support me?