Ahead of the winter season, a doctor has shared advice for reducing the duration and severity of colds with a supplement available in most pharmacies
A GP has shared the one thing she recommends people do as soon as they notice cold symptoms, as she says the tip helps to reduce the duration and severity of your illness. According to Doctor Shireen, the trick is incredibly easy to try, and it’s not expensive, either.
In a post shared as @doctorshireen, the medical educator told followers: “I’m an NHS GP, and I’m going to give you guys one small tip that’s going to reduce the duration and severity of any cold you have this winter.” She explained: “The second you notice an itchy throat, a runny nose, itchy burning eyes, anything that might suggest you’ve got a cough or a cold coming what I want you to do is take two things: Vitamin C and Zinc.
“You can actually get these Barocca-style tablets that you can pop into water. Just start it. You can’t prevent coughs or colds, but research is out there to show that taking Zinc and Vitamin C reduces the duration and the severity. I’ve personally been doing this for the last couple of years, and I can tell you it really works.”
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The supplements are available from most pharmacies, with Boots selling a six-month supply for £8 . The expert also recommends adults take a Vitamin D supplement during the winter.
In another of her popular videos, the GP explained: “People don’t come to the doctor and say, ‘I’ve got Vitamin D deficiency.’ They come to the doctor and say, ‘I’m feeling really tired. I’ve got joint pain, bone pain.
“I’m feeling depressed. I’m feeling anxious. I’m really prone to getting infections. My immune system seems down in my boots,’ and what do we do as GPs? We do a blood test, and the blood tests are all coming back with low Vitamin D.
“Now, lots of people don’t know this but from October to March everybody needs to be taking a Vitamin D supplement, and that can be 800 units or 1000 units, but all adults should be taking a Vitamin D supplement.”
As Doctor Shireen adds, your GP should be your first point of call if you have any concerns about your health, and your doctor may prescribe a higher dose than is available over the counter if a blood test shows you have a deficiency. It’s also important to talk to your GP before making any drastic diet or lifestyle changes.
