Zero Gravity & Other Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Treatments
Affecting the system of your body responsible for breathing, upper respiratory infections (URIs) can be caused by a variety of viruses and bacteria. These illnesses can impact your daily routine causing you to miss work, have low energy levels, pain, discomfort, or more, depending on its level of severity. It comes as no surprise, then, that people seek out treatment for upper respiratory infection symptoms that will work as quickly as possible.
Today, we’re exploring what URIs are, common symptoms you may experience, as well as zero gravity chairs and other upper respiratory tract infection treatments to get you back to full health efficiently. As with any illness, you should first consult your doctor before beginning any new upper respiratory infection treatment for professional medical guidance.
What Is a Respiratory Infection?
Before we dive into upper respiratory tract infection treatments, what are they? Respiratory infections are categorized into two types: upper respiratory infections and lower respiratory infections.
Lower respiratory infections include conditions like bronchitis and pneumonia. They’re illnesses that affect your airways and lungs. Of the two types of respiratory infections, these tend to be more severe and last longer.
Upper respiratory infections impact the higher areas of this body system, affecting the sinuses and throat. URIs are defined as irritation and swelling up the upper airways (nose, throat, sinuses, etc.) with no signs of pneumonia or another underlying cause to account for the affliction.
Some common upper respiratory tract infections include:
- Common cold
- Laryngitis
- Sinus infections (sinusitis)
- Pharyngitis
URIs are contagious, able to be spread from person to person via respiratory droplets or personal contact. Symptoms like coughing or sneezing are the most common ways people spread these germs and bacteria to others. If you’re undergoing upper respiratory infection treatment, it’s best to limit your interaction with others to only absolute necessities until your doctor says you’re no longer contagious. While contagious, consider wearing gloves or a mask around anyone else you have to interact with, as well as maintaining clean surfaces and being mindful of touching places or people.
Symptoms of Upper Respiratory Tract Infections
Because URIs are frequently viral instead of bacterial, your doctor may not be able to prescribe an antibiotic to speed up your recovery. Oftentimes, URIs are illnesses you simply have to wait out. This means that effective upper respiratory tract infection treatments are frequently more focused on managing symptoms instead of purging the body of bacteria via medication.
So what are the symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections? The most common symptoms include:
- Coughing or sneezing
- Sinus congestion
- Low-grade fever
- Excessive mucus
- Pain or pressure around the face
- Runny nose
- Sore or scratchy throat
- Body aches
- Bad breath
- Dulled or loss of taste
- Headaches
Most commonly, people may start to experience symptoms 1 to 3 days after they come into contact with another infected individual. These symptoms typically last between 7 and 10 days but may vary from person to person. How you practice upper respiratory tract infection self-care may also have a direct impact on the length of your recovery. Self care activities are good for your overall wellness and prove to be potentially effective as a treatment for upper respiratory infection cases
Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Treatments
Since there isn’t always a simple prescription your doctor can give you for URIs, people have turned to zero gravity chairs and other types of upper respiratory tract infection treatments to manage symptoms and enhance their recovery process.
Potentially effective upper respiratory infection treatment options for home you might try are:
- Staying hydrated
- Eating the right foods like chicken soup or other warm broths
- Adjusting room humidity and temperature
- Resting as much as possible
- Gargling saltwater
- Taking a hot shower or bath
1. Staying Hydrated
The number one item on any list of upper respiratory tract infection treatments is to drink plenty of fluids. This means drinking plenty of water or other water-based beverages like hot tea. What’s the reason for that, you ask? While it’s always important to stay hydrated to promote your overall health, water helps thin mucus and prevent it from sticking to your sinuses. This method not only helps your body recover faster but prevents additional bacterial infection of the sinuses
Drinking plenty of water also helps disperse the virus within your body into the bloodstream, making it easier for your immune system to fight off and purge the bacteria.
2. Eating the Right Foods
The next thing you’ve likely heard about upper respiratory tract infection treatments is to eat chicken soup or clear broth. The fact is, there’s something to this suggestion that may actually help your body. A study done on the potential medicinal benefits of chicken soup found it may have a slight anti-inflammatory effect that helps with upper respiratory infection treatment.
Clear broths like chicken soup help you stay hydrated. It’s another method to pair with drinking water to keep hydrated while fighting off a URI. Additionally, it’s vital to your immune system that you continue eating properly when sick. Without proper food, your immune system won’t have the energy it needs to fight off bacteria or viruses affecting your body.
3. Adjusting Room Humidity and Temperature
Next on our list of upper respiratory tract infection treatments is something you may not have considered before. Adjusting your room humidity and temperature may help as part of upper respiratory tract infection self-care to have you feeling better faster.
Keep the room warm, but don’t overheat yourself. You should also consider a humidifier or vaporizer to keep the air from getting too dry. Moist air may help loosen sinus or nasal congestion, reducing coughing and sneezing. If you’re using a humidifier, make sure you keep it clean to prevent bacteria or mold growth, which would be counterproductive to your recovery.
4. Getting Enough Rest
Hey you, go back to bed! One of the best upper respiratory tract infection treatments you can do for yourself is to make sure you get adequate rest. Resting allows your body to focus all its efforts on fighting the virus or bacteria causing you to be sick. It may also help manage symptoms of upper respiratory infections like headaches or body aches.
If you’re tired of staying in bed all day, one of the most popular methods for upper respiratory tract infection self-care is using a luxury zero gravity chair. These modern recliners are designed to help relax your mind and body while simultaneously providing a wide array of potential health benefits to support a swift recovery.
The reclined zero gravity position elevates the legs above the heart level, alleviating excess pressure on the lower spine and distributing weight evenly along the body. This positioning may help manage body aches as well as increase blood circulation to reduce inflammation in the body. Zero gravity chairs may also help improve lung function for those fighting lower respiratory infections.
Zero gravity chair features that may serve well as a complementary upper respiratory infection treatment are heat therapy and massage features. They have also been recognized as effective tools to help you get more restorative sleep. Each of these features serves to enhance how the body heals itself and get you back to feeling your best in record time.
5. Gargling Salt Water
One of the most common symptoms of URIs is a sore or scratchy throat. Gargling with salt water may help alleviate this pain and soothe your throat for several hours at a time. This can be especially beneficial before bed to help you sleep through the night and get enough rest.
If gargling with salt water isn’t possible or is uncomfortable for you, other similar upper respiratory tract infection treatments you might try include eating ice chips or drinking hot tea. Unlike salt water, which you should not drink, ice chips and hot tea can be part of your efforts to stay hydrated, as well.
6. Taking a Hot Shower or Bath
Last on our list of popular upper respiratory tract infection treatments is taking a hot shower or bath. Not only are these upper respiratory tract infection self-care methods relaxing, but they may actually help with decongestion and managing symptoms of URIs.
Steam from a hot shower or bath may help clear the sinus passages and allow mucus to drain more effectively. The heat from the water can also help manage body aches and other uncomfortable symptoms of URIs.
When it comes to upper respiratory tract infection treatments, the most effective methods may be those that help manage symptoms and support your immune system. Often, these infections are viral, meaning your doctor may not be able to prescribe medication to help unless things become more severe.
Consult your doctor about different upper respiratory infection treatment options for professional guidance. Simple methods like staying hydrated, getting enough rest, and choosing a zero gravity chair to support your body inside and out could make all the difference in your recovery.
