What is a procrastinated cold?

definition

One speaks of a delayed cold when a rather harmless cold, usually caused by viruses, turns into a severe cold or the symptoms of the cold do not go away for more than two weeks.
The dragged-out cold can sometimes cause serious secondary diseases, for example in the heart and lungs, and thus be life-threatening. It should therefore be ensured that there is a sufficient closed season - even if it is only a slight cold at the beginning - and especially sports should be avoided.

Causes of a procrastinated cold

The main cause of a delayed cold is resuming sporting activities too early before the cold has even completely cured. Hard physical work can also have a negative effect on healing a cold. Therefore, especially with such professional groups, care should be taken to ensure that the sick leave is long enough.

Smoking while having a cold can also make symptoms longer or worse. You should therefore refrain from smoking even if you have a slight cold. If the body is not spared enough, the immune system cannot work properly and needs a longer time to fight the causes of the common cold.

If the immune system is already weakened, for example due to stress at work, a more serious infection can spread to the light one and result, for example, in bronchitis, inflammation of the sinuses or pneumonia.

Read about it too: How can I shorten the duration of a cold?

These symptoms tell me that I have a cold that has been dragged on

The symptoms of a dragged on cold can be very different: They can be more harmless for a longer period of time, such as an annoying cough. However, the symptoms can also have more serious effects and attack organs, such as pneumonia (pneumonia) or myocarditis (Myocarditis) trigger.

A postponed cold can be recognized by the duration of the symptoms: On the one hand, it is probably a postponed cold if the symptoms are still unchanged after about 10 to 12 days, first get better and then get worse again or get over one simply worsen for a longer period of time. The duration of the cold symptoms is therefore a good indication of whether a cold has not been completely cured.

Typical cold symptoms are runny nose, cough, sore throat, headache and body aches. If the cold worsens, it can also lead to fever and shortness of breath during physical exertion. If yellowish or greenish sputum appears after a few days, it can be assumed that a bacterial infection has been added to the viral one. This can then spread to the sinuses or to the lungs. If the heart is attacked by the dragged on cold, cardiac arrhythmias, palpitations and also pain when inhaling can occur

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to cough

Coughing as a sign of a dragged on cold can simply drag on for more than two weeks and then get better. However, it can also get worse and lead to bronchitis. In addition to the cough, sputum then appears, which is more purulent in the case of a bacterial and a viral inflammation rather whitish.
In addition, there may be a fever, headache and body aches. If the bronchitis is left untreated, pneumonia can develop. This is usually associated with a high fever, chest pain and chills and should urgently be treated with antibiotics.

Also read: Why is my voice often gone when I have a cold?

Shortness of breath

Shortness of breath (DyspneaOn the one hand, it can occur when the lungs are affected by the cold. If you have a cold that is dragged on, it can lead to shortness of breath if you Stairs climbs or go a little faster, because the lungs have not yet completely healed.

It can also lead to a blocked nasal cavity or paranasal sinus as a result of a dragged on cold. Since this is the It is difficult to breathe in, which can also lead to shortness of breath.

Sudden shortness of breath can also occur with inflammation of the heart muscle (Myocarditis) occur. This leads to sudden shortness of breath, especially during physical activity, as the heart is overwhelmed by the inflammation and can no longer carry out its task (Decompensation): The heart can no longer pump the blood through the body and accumulates in the lungs, which can lead to shortness of breath and a life-threatening condition.

More information can be found here:

The course of a cold
Chronic cold

What can be other consequences of a dragged cold?

On the one hand, sinus infection (Sinusitis) caused by a dragged-out cold.This is usually noticeable through a feeling of pressure on the face - especially when moving (for example bending the head). In addition, there is often a purulent runny nose. The nose is usually blocked and thus hinders breathing and the sense of smell. Viruses are usually the cause of sinusitis. But it can also be triggered by bacteria.

Meningitis (meningitis) can occur as a result of a delayed cold. This often goes through Fever, headache and stiff neck noticeable. Sometimes it can be too Clouding of consciousness come. Meningitis should be treated urgently in a hospital to prevent the infection from spreading to the brain.

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Treatment of a sinus infection
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These dangers exist to my heart

A dragged on cold can affect the heart and, for example, inflammation of the heart muscle (Myocarditis) cause. Myocarditis is mainly caused by viruses and causes the heart muscle cells to break down. It is estimated that 1-5% of all viral diseases cause myocarditis, but this estimate is very uncertain, since an inflammation of the myocardium often heals without symptoms after an infection.

Above all, myocarditis should be considered after a cold if the person concerned has felt very weak and unable to cope for a long period of time since the cold. Although myocarditis is symptom-free in most cases, it can also present with different and non-specific symptoms such as tiredness, dizziness, poor performance, palpitations and general cold symptoms accompanied. In addition, chest pain, cardiac arrhythmias or shortness of breath - especially as a result of a weak heart - can occur.

It is important to interpret the symptoms of myocarditis correctly and in good time, as this can also have a fatal outcome.

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Causes of myocarditis
Diagnosis of myocarditis

lung infection

Pneumonia (pneumonia) is triggered in most cases by bacteria. If a viral cold is dragged on and the immune system is weakened as a result, a bacterial infection can be added to the viral inflammation (bacterial superinfection) and pneumonia can develop.

With pneumonia it comes to high fever and chills, purulent (yellow-green) sputum, fast breathing (tachypnea) or shortness of breath (dyspnea) and chest pain on inhalation and exhalation. Pneumonia should be treated as quickly and urgently as possible, as it is the infectious disease that is most often fatal in industrialized countries.

You can find out more here: Symptoms of pneumonia

This is how I get rid of a dragged-out cold

If the symptoms of a dragged on cold become worse rather than better over a longer period of time, a doctor should be consulted in order to avoid secondary diseases. However, it is important that the body is spared and that physical activity is avoided as long as symptoms of the common cold are still present. This also applies to other physical exertion, such as jobs that involve hard physical work.

In addition to physical rest, it is important that those affected drink a lot. Wraps and inhalations can be used against persistent sore throats or coughs to help the cold that has been dragged on. If the symptoms have worsened and there are signs of bronchitis or sinusitis, antibiotic therapy should be given if a bacterial event is suspected. Pneumonia, meningitis and heart muscle inflammation should be treated as an inpatient in a hospital.

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Inhaling if you have a cold

Do antibiotics help with a dragged on cold?

Antibiotic therapy is only helpful if the infection is bacterial. Whether or not it is a bacterial infection can be guessed at by certain symptoms or by smears.

Symptoms that indicate bacterial inflammation include:

high levels of inflammation in the blood
chills
high fever
Sputum / mucus with a yellowish-greenish color

In any case, antibiotics are given for pneumonia and meningitis. Antibiotics are also usually used for long-lasting sinus infections that are accompanied by severe pain and high fever. Since heart muscle inflammation is usually caused by viruses, antibiotic treatment is only used if bacteria are detected.

More information is available here: When do you need antibiotics for a cold?

How long does it take to cure a dragged cold?

If the symptoms are mild that are associated with the dragged-out cold, the course of the disease is within most of the cases if sufficient rest and renunciation of vigorous physical exertion finished two weeks. However, if the body is not spared even with a protracted cold, serious illnesses can develop, some of which even longer hospital stays or permanent consequential damage.

Although heart muscle inflammation caused by viruses usually heals, in rare cases permanent cardiac insufficiency can develop. The lungs can also be damaged to such an extent that chronic bronchitis develops, which is associated with coughing and sputum, which occurs several times a year or persists. The complete healing of a sinus infection usually takes several weeks, but in rare cases it can be cured within a week.

You may also be interested in this topic: Duration of an inflammation of the heart muscle

When can I do sports again after a cold?

Those affected should actually only do sports again when the cold symptoms have completely subsided, as serious consequences that can lead to death are possible. It is therefore better not to risk anything: it is even best if you do not train again until one or two days after you are completely free of symptoms.

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Exercise for a cold

Diagnosis of a dragged on cold

At the beginning the questioning of the person concerned by the doctor is in the foreground. For example, the type of symptoms, start and duration and treatment (e.g. rest) are discussed. This is followed by a physical examination, during which, for example, listening (auscultation) to the lungs and heart is carried out.
An examination of the lymph nodes, throat and paranasal sinuses is also included. If there are any abnormalities, further examinations must be scheduled. This includes, above all, a blood test, paying particular attention to increased inflammation values. X-ray examinations of the chest or a heart ultrasound may need to be performed.