How to Recover From a Cold

What are the keys to recovering from a cold, and how do you do it quickly?

“A girl blowing her nose” prompt, Canva, Magic Media, 23 Feb. 2024.

Every year the time comes around when you cannot enter a room without the sound of sniffling and coughing all around you. We all try to stay away from the common cold, but once you’ve got it, how do you get rid of it?

Jane Esterly-Rettig: a nurse of over 20 years says that the common cold is an endlessly mutating virus. Because the virus is constantly mutating there is no “cure” or vaccine for the common cold. This makes recovering from a cold so much more important. 

Many people are under the impression that taking antibiotics will help you recover from a cold. This is a misconception. Since the common cold is a virus, antibiotics will do nothing to heal your body from a cold. Another misconception is that common medicines like Nyquil will help recovery, but this medication simply lessens the symptoms. Medicines like Nyquil will not harm your body and will offer temporary relief, but they don’t in any way help your body get over a cold. 

Although medications like Nyquil won’t hurt the recovery process, other variables will. “The Worst thing to do when getting over a cold is overexertion or using harmful substances ie. smoking, vaping, alcohol, or illicit drugs”

Rettig states that “ An increase in rest and hydration” are the keys to a healthy recovery. 

The common cold is defined by symptoms such as Fatigue, Nasal congestion, Sore throat, and headache. These symptoms will be relieved by hydrating and resting. 

Bodily functions are all improved when it is properly hydrated, which is why hydration is so important in the recovery process from a cold. While your body is fighting off the virus you may develop a fever. Drinking water regulates body temperature and can decrease the risk of reaching dangerous fever temperatures. The body is working overtime when it is fighting a cold, and being hydrated will give your body an easier time.

Increased rest is just as important as hydration. Because the body is working hard to fight a virus, rest will give your body energy it needs to take to recover. Jane says that “an increase in rest will allow the body to fight off the virus and will limit unneeded exertions of energy.”

Recovering from a cold can be an annoying process, but hydrating and giving your body the rest it needs, are the keys to a quick and healthy recovery. 

Why are more teens suffering from eating disorders?

As a dancer and teenage girl, I have watched many of my peers and friends struggle with body image. Constantly being exposed to harmful stereotypes and standards can cause thoughts of self-worthlessness which can lead to deadly disorders. Eating disorders kill over 10,000 people every year, with the leading percentage of those being young women. I often wonder what causes eating disorders and why are they becoming more common?

In recent years many studies have confirmed that eating disorders are growing in numbers, especially within the population of teenage girls. Teenage girls, especially older teenage girls, are susceptible to many societal pressures that can trigger an eating disorder.

Although researchers are not yet completely sure what causes eating disorders, anorexia seems to have a “trigger moment.” This moment could be a friend commenting on your weight, or in Jeanette McCurdy’s case, her mother introducing her to dieting at the young age of eleven. This triggering event can lead to anorexic tendencies and a hyperfixation of body image, which can lead to disordered eating and a very dangerous and unhealthy lifestyle. 

While Anorexia is triggered by a moment or event, some researchers claim that anorexia needs a genetic component to be triggered. Like some mental disorders, anorexia is claimed to be a genetic disorder that needs a triggering event to trigger a person actively exhibiting symptoms and behaviors of anorexia. 

Anorexia and Bulimia have steadily increased within teenage girls aged 17-19 in recent years. Rates among females in this age group have risen from 1.6 percent to 20.8 percent, in the past 6 years, and the trend doesn’t seem to be dying. The Director of Mental Health at NHS England, Claire Murdoch states,  “We have seen a 47 percent increase in young people being treated for eating disorders compared to pre-pandemic.” Researchers are not sure what has caused such a drastic increase, as the pandemic severely impacted many factors in people’s lives. 

69% percent of females state that models and unhealthy stereotypes in the media impacted their eating disorder. The impact of surroundings is immense, and by limiting the media that is produced that influences this toxic diet culture we impact the amount of girls impacted by an eating disorder.

This issue widely impacts so many, and more attention must be paid to it. Although this subject has a lot of unknowns, we do know that as a society we need to be taking measures to prevent and help treat these eating disorders. By reducing toxic stereotypes that are constantly pushed into the media and consumed by young girls we can change young girls’ lives, and reduce eating disorders. 

Works Cited

Eating Disorders among Young People Up Fifteen-Fold since 2017 – EBSCO. https://research.ebsco.com/c/idf4ib/viewer/html/ua5nskmdvf. Accessed 1 Dec. 2023.

Kristie, Boland. “Women with Eating Disorders ‘Absolutely Let Down’ by System.” Manawatu Standard, 6 June 2023, p. 6. Newspaper Source Plus, research.ebsco.com/c/idf4ib/viewer/html/fjwedwtbar.

Press, Cassandra Szklarski The Canadian. “Pandemic Prompts Rise in Youth Eating Disorders.” Hamilton Spectator, The (ON), 23 Jan. 2021. Newspaper Source Plus, research.ebsco.com/c/idf4ib/viewer/html/5gxsnvpsnj.

Paul, Pamela. Opinion | Girls Are Taking Their Pain Out on Themselves. 20 Apr. 2023, www.nytimes.com/2023/04/20/opinion/anorexia-eating-disorder-girls.html 

Now 1 in 5 Older Teen Girls Have Eating Disorders.‬‎ – ‪Record Details‬‎ – ‪EBSCOhost Research Databases‬‎. https://research.ebsco.com/c/idf4ib/search/details/6malb4x54n?limiters=FT%3AY%2CDT1%3A2018-11-29%2F2023-11-29&q=eating+disorders&db=n5h. Accessed 29 Nov. 2023.

Pro Column stage 2

In recent years many studies have confirmed that eating disorders are growing in numbers, especially within the population of teenage girls. Teenage girls, especially older teenage girls, are susceptible to many societal pressures that can trigger an eating disorder.

Although researchers are not yet completely sure what causes eating disorders, anorexia seems to have a “trigger moment.” This moment could be a friend commenting on your weight, or in Jeanette McCurdy’s case, her mother introducing her to dieting at the young age of eleven. This triggering event can lead to anorexic tendencies and a hyperfixation of body image, which can lead to disordered eating and a very dangerous and unhealthy lifestyle. 

While Anorexia is triggered by a moment or event, some researchers claim that anorexia needs a genetic component to be triggered. Like some mental disorders, anorexia is claimed to be a genetic disorder that needs a triggering event to trigger a person actively exhibiting symptoms and behaviors of anorexia. 

Anorexia and Bulimia have steadily increased among teenage girls aged 17-19 in recent years. Rates among females in this age group have risen from 1.6 percent to 20.8 percent, in the past 6 years, and the trend doesn’t seem to be dying. The Director of mental health at NHS England, Claire Murdoch states, “We have supported over 700,000 children and young people with their mental health this year and also seen a 47 percent increase in young people being treated for eating disorders compared to pre-pandemic.” Researchers are not sure what has caused such a drastic increase, as many factors in people’s lives were severely impacted by the pandemic. 

Although this subject has a lot of unknowns, we do know that as a society we need to be taking measures to prevent and help treat these eating disorders. 

What High school is like in 2023

What Defines a High Schooler?

As a high schooler in 2023, I cannot define the modern high school experience, as everyone has been different. The one thing that I find to be true for all high schoolers is that being in high school in 2023 means constant adaptation and welcoming change into your life. As a senior in high school who started freshman year in the middle of a global pandemic, I can truly say that high school has taught me more than I ever expected it would. The adaptation that both teachers and students had to go through was something that in the moment I took for granted, but looking back I am so thankful for.

Instead of a first day of high school filled with new friends and classes, this new chapter in so many lives began on a computer screen isolated from those we knew. This was a change that impacted so many and continues to impact us today. I often ponder what all of our lives could have been, and mourn the missed time with people, but despite all of the pain it brought, it also brought so much love and joy. The modern high schooler learned to never take any moment for granted and to always utilize the time we have; a lesson only learned from experience.

Modern high schoolers are able to quickly adapt to change, and mold themselves to fit into any learning environment. Modern high schoolers have so much compassion and love for their classmates and the world. I truly do believe that the modern high schooler has more resilience and strength than ever before. Covid drove so many apart, but it brought the community of high schoolers together. High schoolers feel a bond in knowing that their classmates went through COVID-19 and so may change with them.

Our bonds are stronger, and we truly appreciate each other for the moments missed and the moments to come. In a world that is constantly changing, there is no option for us but to change along with it. The “high school experience” is not something that can be defined in a dictionary, but instead is found in the hearts of the students. The range of high school experiences in 2023 is so vast, but I find a common thread in that we learned not only to adapt to change but to thrive in it, and are more resilient because of it.

Me and my friends at senior sunrise.