The winter weather often reminds us of fluffy pyjamas and cuddling up in front of a cosy fire, but it’s also the season of the dreaded cold and flu.
Waking up with a persistent cough and the sniffles is something most of us can expect during the colder temperatures - but why are so many people experiencing long-lasting symptoms?
According to health experts, the ongoing cough could be down to people picking up one infection after another.
Staggering findings from medics at Imperial College London have revealed that rates of upper and lower respiratory tract infections are well above average usually seen so far in winter.
What's more, weekly data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) also found high rates of flu and other respiratory viruses.
Professor Kamila Hawthorne, chairwoman of the Royal College of GPs explained that infections have been spreading for longer than usual.
She added that most of the public have reduced their resistance to infections after socially isolating for two winters.
Prof Hawthorne said: "This seems to make it more likely they will pick up infections than in previous years.
“So, in some cases, it may be a matter of picking up one infection after another. They are all different and getting over one type of infection does not give immunity against another one.
“We’d encourage patients to do what they can to keep themselves well this winter, including practising good public hygiene such as regular handwashing, or using hand gels if that isn’t possible, and throwing tissues away once they’ve been used.”
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Many people have not been able to heat their homes amid the cost-of-living crisis, which will also be contributing to the rise in illness, says the expert.
“It goes without saying that if patients are struggling to eat healthily or heat their homes or are living in damp conditions, then this will have an impact on their health – and the added stress of struggling financially will undoubtedly take its toll on people’s mental health,” she said.
The increase in coughs could also be linked to weather changes and the nature of specific viruses.
Asthma and Lung UK clinical lead Dr Andrew Whittamore explained: “We haven’t seen so much Covid, but it is still there. And we’ve also had infections such as Strep A, with lots of people coming to us who were coughing but also had sore throats – mainly children, but a lot of adults as well.
“Covid affects people in lots of different ways – some can get scarring of their lungs and fibrosis, which can cause a long-term cough.
“This is why we say anybody who’s still coughing four weeks after having Covid to really get a chest X-ray and get checked out," added the GP.
Dr Whittamore urges anyone who has had a cough for around three to four weeks or longer to seek medical help to rule out other illnesses.
“In many cases, it’s some reassuring advice, just to say ‘Actually, this is what’s going around, it sounds like you’ve got a virus or another virus on top of it’.
“But sometimes these things need treatment, sometimes they need looking into, and sometimes you pick up people who’ve got perhaps underlying asthma or COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), because they get wheezy, they get breathless, they get tight-chested.
“So we can identify people who’ve got these conditions underneath which could be making them more ill," he added.
How can I ease my cough?
In most cases, a cough will usually clear up on its own within three to four weeks.
But the NHS have shared six easy steps to help sooth your annoying ailment, these include:
Have plenty of rest
Drink lots of fluids
Take paracetamol or ibuprofen to treat any pain
Stay at home and avoid other people if you have a high temperature or do not feel well enough to do normal activities
Try hot lemon and honey
Use a herbal medicine called pelargonium (suitable for people aged 12 or over)
Prof Hawthorne added: “We’d encourage patients to understand that giving antibiotics for viral infections will not help, as they only help with bacterial infections.
“Most upper respiratory tract infections are due to viruses.
“Pharmacists will also be able to provide advice on appropriate over-the-counter medicines that may help with symptoms, but do not ‘cure’ the infection," she said.
If you have a persistent cough, are bringing up discoloured phlegm, your cough has severely worsened with shortness of breath, or are experiencing chest pain or losing weight for no reason, it is recommended you visit your GP.
