Latest news with #cold
ABC News
2 days ago
- Climate
- ABC News
Australian winters shouldn't feel this unbelievably cold
The coldest I've ever been are the four winters I lived in Sydney. And I come from Melbourne. We were renting a 1960s apartment that came with aircon but no heating. That's okay, we thought: we're now in Sydney! Who needs heating in the most temperate climate in the most beautiful city on earth? That first morning in June, when I woke to see my shocked shout of cold hanging in the air as a little ball of mist, I thought I was hallucinating that I was back in Melbourne. I went to turn on the… heater? Nothing there. Just a row of windows looking onto a lovely view which was seeping into our home in the form of an 11 degree overnight low. That weekend we took the car to a famous discount electronics shop and piled the boot with plug-in, thermostat-controlled oil heaters. As winter gradually set in, increasingly resembling something like the ones we left behind, we gradually accumulated oil heaters until there was one in every room. The electricity bill that first year really was something. But everyone around us seemed to be in denial. Maybe a really great summer makes you inured to the cold? We spent that first winter at friend's homes trying not to steal looks at the sole, milk-crate sized gas heater they all seemed to have in their living rooms, with nothing else. Going to the bathroom was a shock, as you walked into a wall of freezing air whenever you left that one heated room. It was like the worst Melbourne winter: cold out, cold in. I don't know why, but this is finally the winter that social media, dominated by young world travellers, has discovered that most of Australia is absolute rubbish at keeping our houses warm. The posts of young Europeans warming themselves by an open gas oven, or Americans cocooned in polar fleece onesies inside their Aussie homes have been both amusing and prolific. They wonder when we are going to discover proper insulation. One, based in Brisbane, wanted to know why she was colder inside than outside. They are stunned to discover they were warmer back in a country that's blanketed by snow for four months of the year. It's a very Australian thing: denial at the reality that yes, all Australian coastal towns do actually have winters. Our other proud tradition is a long and only recently reversed one: really slack building standards when it comes to home insulation. Many homes in Australia were built before insulation was required by law, and even after regulations were introduced, the minimum standards here are lower than in Europe or North America. In Victoria, mandatory insulation only started in 1991, and national minimum energy standards were not set until 2003. Poor airtightness and a lack of focus on thermal efficiency make our houses colder. We build timber-framed suburban homes, like the US, but unlike them most our homes have poorer insulation and single-pane windows. US homes are generally more airtight and energy efficient. UK homes are usually brick or masonry, making it easier to retain internal heat. Australian homes are also some of the largest in the world, making them harder and more expensive to heat. We like our floor-to-ceiling windows and big sliding glass doors. I remember visiting relatives in Canada and wondering at how few and how small their windows were compared to ours. But you don't need a snowy winter like theirs to realise that any temperature below 15 degrees will seep into a house made from a lot of glass, and that will make sitting inside it unpleasant. And a badly insulated house will be hard, expensive and energy-inefficient to heat. We are not bad at keeping our houses cool, although no longer in the passive way of the wonderful verandahs we used to build, or even the suburban tradition of eves that keep the sun off the glass. Now, we just lean on air conditioning, and you won't find even a student studio apartment that doesn't have (energy inefficient) air conditioning. But heating? Well, most of those aircon units will be reverse-cycle but, as any traveller from the northern hemisphere will tell you, heat rises, so those high-set aircon units are keeping the ceiling beautifully warm while you reach for that puffer jacket just to sit on couch and watch TV. I'm sure the Australian followers of these shivering expat accounts are enjoying a kind of Antipodean schadenfreude: cold enough for ya? But there's not a lot to enjoy here and, perhaps unwittingly, our freezing friends are pointing out the consequences of the extravagant way of living and building that you can indulge in when you are sitting on pools and piles of fossil fuels that you once believed would never run out. The warmest place I ever spent a winter was my tiny Greenwich Village studio in New York, where an oil radiator the size of a fold-out couch came hissing to life in September and was turned off by the building supervisor in May. No matter the weather inside or out, that blistering, nuggety thing pumped out heat that had me in a t-shirt even while the 17th major snowstorm of the winter of 1994 roared outside. That now seems to me as much overkill as our as badly-insulated, all-glass houses. The climate emergency makes it crucial to fix our energy-inefficient homes and to find passive ways of building and heating that use the least amount of energy to keep us warm in a climate where freezing conditions are few, but the experience of cold is too common. Even if it's just to keep the visiting Scandi kids on their gap-year from freezing their clogs off. This weekend my editors have thoughtfully provided you with an essay on whether something with the utterly ghastly-sounding name of "perpetual stew" is actually safe to eat. I have refused to open the link and read it. I am appalled on your behalf. Have a safe and happy weekend and as the Triple J family celebrates 50 years by kicking off the Hottest 100 of Australian songs — which I could easily fill myself with my own list of 100 — let's get you thinking. Undisputed classics? Or neglected masterpieces? Your call. Get voting. Kick off with this. Go well. Virginia Trioli is presenter of Creative Types and a former co-host of ABC News Breakfast and Mornings on ABC Radio Melbourne.
Health Line
13-06-2025
- Health
- Health Line
Cold and Flu Home Remedies
There is no cure for a cold or the flu, but a bowl of chicken soup or a cup of hot ginger tea with honey can help manage the symptoms. Some home remedies, such as vitamin C, may slightly reduce the length of time you are sick. Body aches, fever, chills, and nasal congestion can make you feel miserable. While home remedies can't cure a cold or the flu, they can help relieve symptoms — such as body aches, fever, chills, nasal congestion — during your recovery. But, if symptoms don't improve or you have trouble breathing, rapid heartbeat, faintness, or any severe symptoms, it's best to seek medical help. Here, find out what cold and flu remedies you can try at home. 1. Chicken soup There is no scientific proof that chicken soup can cure a cold or flu or speed up recovery, but its ingredients contain nutrients that support your immune system. It's also a comforting food that provides hydration and may help you feel better overall. There is also some evidence that the nutrients in chicken soup may slow the movement of neutrophils in your body. Neutrophils are a type of white blood cell that helps protect your body from infection. When they're moving slowly, they stay more concentrated in the areas of your body that most need them. This may contribute to healing. Try this recipe for chicken soup. You'll need chicken, carrots, celery, and an onion. Alternatively, consider bone broth, which may also have health benefits. If you're using canned soup, opt for low sodium soup varieties. 4. Garlic Garlic contains the compound allicin, which has antimicrobial and possibly antiviral properties. Adding garlic to your diet might reduce the severity of cold symptoms. According to some research, it might even help you avoid getting sick in the first place. More research is needed into the potential cold-fighting benefits of garlic, but adding more garlic to your diet probably won't hurt. Can you eat raw garlic? 5. Echinacea Native Americans have long used the herb and root of the echinacea plant for medicinal purposes. Its active ingredients include flavonoids, chemicals that have many therapeutic effects on the body. For example, flavonoids can boost your immune system and reduce inflammation. Evidence indicates echinacea may help prevent a cold but is unlikely to shorten it. One 2020 study suggests that taking echinacea may help treat common cold symptoms in children. 6. Vitamin C Vitamin C is an antioxidant that plays many important roles in your body, including supporting the immune system. Good dietary sources of vitamin C include: citrus fruits red peppers green leafy vegetables, such as broccoli Adding fresh lemon juice to hot tea with honey may reduce phlegm when you're sick. Drinking hot or cold lemonade may also help. Vitamin C in the diet or as supplements is unlikely to prevent a cold, but some evidence suggests it may improve symptoms and may slightly shorten the time a cold lasts. Can vitamin C prevent or cure a cold? 7. Probiotics Probiotics are 'friendly' bacteria and yeast that are present in your body, some foods, and supplements. They can help keep your gut and immune system healthy and may reduce your chance of getting sick with an upper respiratory infection, as well as how long the infection lasts. However, more studies are needed. Probiotic yogurt may benefit your immune system as well as providing protein and calcium. Look for products that list live bacteria on the label. 8. Salt water gargle Gargling with salt water may help prevent upper respiratory infections. It may also decrease the severity of cold symptoms, for instance, by easing sore throat pain and nasal congestion. A saltwater gargle can reduce and loosen mucus, which contains bacteria and allergens. To try this remedy at home: Dissolve 1 teaspoon of salt in a full glass of water. Swish it around your mouth and throat. Spit it out. What other uses are there for a saltwater gargle? 9. Saline nasal irrigation Using a saline spray or a neti pot may help relieve nasal congestion with a cold, and it might help with some symptoms of an upper respiratory tract infection. However, be sure to use only distilled, sterile, or previously boiled and cooled water and to wash a neti pot thoroughly between uses. Not doing so could introduce microbes that could lead to potentially serious infections. 10. Topical ointments Ointments containing camphor, eucalyptus oil, and menthol, such as VapoRub, may reduce a nighttime cough. One or two dabs before bed can help open air passages and help improve: congestion sleep coughing Use it up to 3 times in every 24 hours. VapoRub is not suitable for children under 2 years, and ask your doctor before using it on older children. 11. Essential oils Some essential oils can help manage the symptoms of a cold, flu, and other respiratory conditions. This is due to their microbial, pain-relieving, or anti-inflammatory properties. Examples include: eucalyptus peppermint (menthol) Frankincense thyme tea tree Use a diffuser or add a few drops of essential oil to a warm bath. How can essential oils help when you have the flu? While research suggests there are health benefits, the FDA doesn't monitor or regulate the purity or quality of essential oils. It's important to talk with a healthcare professional before you begin using essential oils and be sure to research the quality of a brand's products. Always do a patch test before trying a new essential oil. 12. Humidity Increased humidity may help reduce dryness and inflammation in the nose and throat. A humidifier in your bedroom or elsewhere in your home may help you feel more comfortable. Adding a few drops of eucalyptus oil might also help relieve congestion. For the same effect without a humidifier, take a long shower or linger in a steamy bathroom. Remember, the water used in humidifiers needs to be changed daily to stop mold and other fungi from growing. Also, when it comes to children, it is safer to use a cool-mist humidifier. 13. Elderberry Some studies suggest that elderberry supplements may help relieve the symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections and flu. However, more research is needed. 14. Warm baths Sometimes, you can reduce a child's fever by giving them a warm — but not hot — sponge bath. Warm baths may also help reduce cold and flu symptoms in adults. Can you treat a cold with a detox bath? 15. Boost your immune system Boosting your immune system probably won't help if you already have the flu, but it can protect you from other bouts and more severe symptoms in the long term. Tips include: getting at least 7 hours of sleep at night following a varied and nutritious diet getting regular exercise follow guidelines for flu vaccinations Optum Perks is owned by RVO Health. By clicking on this link, we may receive a commission. Learn more.
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Cool temperatures continue Saturday, warmer weather possible Sunday
It will be cold starting Sunday, but it will be brighter. Warmer temperatures will close out the weekend, with highs in the upper 60s. Marks will continue to climb again on Monday afternoon. Temperatures are in the 50s and will drop to the 40s. Make sure to take a jacket with you as you head out the door this evening. We will turn colder overnight; temperatures will fall around the 40-degree mark! It will be cold starting Sunday, but it will be brighter. Warmer temperatures will close out the weekend, with highs in the upper 60s. Marks will continue to climb again Monday afternoon, with highs expected to be back closer to normal. Much warmer air is expected by Tuesday, with highs jumping into the 80s through Thursday. Rain chances will return Thursday into Friday with the chance for storms. Make sure to check the forecast on Channel 11 News. Download the Severe Weather Team 11 app for updates and alerts. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
CNET
31-05-2025
- General
- CNET
Sick? These Are the 7 Best Vitamins and Supplements for Shortening a Cold
While many people associate colds with the fall and winter seasons, you can get a cold any time of year. The CDC reports that on average, US adults have two to three colds each year, while children usually have more. Though there is no cure for the common cold, and antibiotics don't work against viruses, there are over-the-counter vitamins and supplements that can lessen your symptoms, shorten your cold's duration and even prevent colds from happening. Just make sure your doctor's aware. 7 over-the-counter supplements proven to shorten a cold There are plenty of supplements you can find at your local drugstore that can aid in knocking out a cold. Many of these are also great to take all year round for overall better health. These are the best vitamins for a cold and best supplements for fighting a cold. Elderberry People commonly reach for elderberry supplements when cold and flu season rolls around. Studies show that taking an elderberry supplement has been associated with shortening a flu. However, it should be noted that it won't prevent it or lessen the symptoms. The supplement has the potential to work much the same at the onset of a cold. Thanks to its antibacterial and antiviral properties, it may help get you back on your feet faster when a cold or flu knocks you down. Zinc According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, zinc supplements should be used with caution. Zinc should be taken orally, and it's been linked to shortening colds, especially if you take it right after cold symptoms start. However, many people take zinc intranasally, but this is not recommended. The NCCIH reports that this method of taking zinc has been proven to be dangerous and can lead to loss of smell. Zinc can also interact with antibiotics and penicillamine, so it is not recommended if you're on one of these medications. Some people have also experienced nausea when taking zinc. Echinacea There is little research on taking echinacea for colds. However, some studies report that taking echinacea not only lessened the likelihood of catching a cold but also shortened the length of colds. Other studies showed similar results, implying that taking echinacea when you catch a cold can help get rid of the cold faster than if you took nothing. This supplement is largely safe to take, though there is a potential for an allergic reaction. Vitamin C Vitamin C has been known to have a positive effect on shortening colds, though it is minimal, according to the NCCIH. In a study published by the organization, people who took vitamin C regularly didn't get colds any less frequently than those who didn't take it, but they did see less severe symptoms. It stands to reason that taking vitamin C on a regular basis can only have a positive effect on a cold, should you catch one. Taking too much vitamin C, though, has the potential to lead to gastrointestinal Pelargonium, a traditional medicine from Africa, has a rich history of being used to help fight illnesses. Studies have shown that taking pelargonium and its derivatives can reduce cold symptoms. One study showed that the earlier you took pelargonium after feeling cold symptoms, the more likely it was to fight those symptoms. Some over-the-counter cold medications have pelargonium in them, including Umcka Cold and Flu. Possible side effects include rash and pruritus (itching of the skin). Andrographis Andrographis is probably a supplement you haven't heard of before, but you can buy it in the supplement aisle at your drugstore. Some research on andrographis, an herb from South Asia, shows that when taken with ginseng, it can lighten the severity of a cold. When taken alone or with usual care, andrographis may shorten the duration of cough and for the throat. Possible side effects are also gastrointestinal, like the other diarrhea and vomiting. It's recommended to take the andrographis within 72 hours of feeling cold symptoms, and you could start seeing an improvement in symptoms in as little as two days. However, research suggests that it's more likely to take four to five days to see improvement. Vitamin D You might know about vitamin D's ability to support your bone health, but that's not all it can do. Some of vitamin D's other important powers are the ability to fight infection and boost your immune system. Studies show that taking a vitamin D supplement can stand up against the common cold and help it go away faster. These supplements can also fight off respiratory infections, which are another common illness people experience during cold and flu season. Risks of OTC supplements for colds Homeopathic remedies are hit or miss for people, but when it comes to the common cold, there aren't a whole lot of proven remedies to turn to. Natural treatments, like over-the-counter vitamin and mineral supplements, are a largely safe bet in trying to treat a cold. However, some of these, like zinc, can be problematic if not taken carefully. The most important thing to remember when taking OTC supplements is that you should consult your doctor -- especially if you have an underlying condition. Your doctor can help you pick out a natural remedy for your cold that will be safe for you. They can help you understand any risks that may be involved with each supplement and examine how they could potentially interact with any other supplements or medications you're taking. This is especially important to do if you're pregnant, as your doctor will want to monitor any supplements you're taking.
Daily Mail
21-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
The daunting reality of moving in with your in-laws: I'm a 42-year-old mother-of-four but around my in-laws I feel half my age
The mood that first Thursday evening in early January was bleaker than the cold outside. Surveying my four children's stricken faces, I worried we'd made a terrible mistake. My youngest, exhausted from her longer-than-ever school commute, sat pleading through tear-stained cheeks: 'When can we go home?' My teen and tween jostled for dining table space to do their homework; my third whispered in my ear that the shower door had just broken off.
