best treatment when a cold starts

Medication

17 Magic Foods That Relieve Cold Symptoms

• Oysters. Lots of studies have been done to gauge the effect of zinc on cold symptoms, with varying results. ...
• Chicken soup. Mom was right: chicken soup really is one of the best cold remedies. ...
• Kiwi. ...
• Yogurt. ...
• Almonds and almond skins. ...
• Honey. ...
• Garlic. ...
• Chili Peppers. ...
• Oatmeal. ...
• Coconut Water. ...

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Self-care

] These nine foods can help your body fight off a cold or flu: Beans. Chicken soup. Citrus fruits. Eggs. Mango. Nuts. Red pepper. Tomatoes. Yogurt or kefir. Beans are full of protein and zinc.

Nutrition

What medicines should I take to treat a cold?

• Solaray Echinacea Vitamin C & Zinc 425mg Supplement, $14.29. ...
• Tylenol Extra Strength Acetaminophen Caplets, $9.47. ...
• Zyrtec 24-Hour Allergy Relief Tablets, $26.48. ...

More items...

What's the best thing to ease a cold?

Typically, the best treatment for a runny nose includes:

• Rest.
• Drink plenty of fluids, especially water.
• Use a saline nasal spray to help relieve symptoms. Limit the use of decongestant nasal sprays to no longer than a few days, as instructed on package labels.
• A cool-mist humidifier at your bedside can combat congestion worsened by dry winter air.

What to eat to help cure a cold?

What is the best over the counter medicine for cold?

What is the best cure for a cold?

Ibuprofen No Good at Cold Treatment

"I was a little surprised that ibuprofen didn’t help versus a placebo in reducing discomfort,” said Brian Oostman, DO, a family doctor with Dreyer...

Easy Advice For Treating Colds

Regardless of the latest study’s findings, Oostman said the best advice for treating your cold symptoms remains simple.Get plenty of rest. Getting...

Best Over-The-Counter Medications For Colds

To ease common cold symptoms, there are a few key active ingredients to look for in cold medications.To treat coughs, Oostman said his best advice...

What are some ways to get rid of a cold?

But there are pros and cons to commonly used cold remedies, such as over-the-counter pain relievers, decongestants, nasal sprays and cough syrups. Don't give OTC cold medications to children.

How to get rid of a cold after taking meds?

This will give you a chance to rest and heal, as well as reduce the chances that you'll spread your cold to others. Adjust your room's temperature and humidity.

How long does echinacea stay good for?

Echinacea seems to be most effective if you take it when you notice cold symptoms and continue it for seven to 10 days. It appears to be safe for healthy adults, but it can interact with many drugs.

How long does zinc syrup last?

Some studies show that zinc lozenges or syrup reduce the length of a cold by about one day, especially when taken within 24 to 48 hours of the first signs and symptoms of a cold. Zinc also has potentially harmful side effects. Intranasal zinc might cause permanent damage to the sense of smell.

How long does it take for a cold to go away?

There's no cure for the common cold. Most cases of the common cold get better without treatment, usually within a week to 10 days. But a cough may linger for a few more days. The best thing you can do is take care of yourself while your body heals. For example, drink plenty of liquids, humidify the air, use saline nasal rinses and get adequate rest.

How to make yourself comfortable when you have a cold?

To make yourself as comfortable as possible when you have a cold, try some of these suggestions: Drink plenty of fluids. Water, juice, clear broth or warm lemon water are good choices. Avoid caffeine and alcohol, which can dehydrate you. Sip warm liquids.

What to do if your child has a cold?

If you or your child has a cold and symptoms persist or worsen or are severe, make an appointment with your primary care provider or your child's pediatrician. Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment.

What to do when you have a cold?

This hormone zaps your immune system, and that makes you an easier target for a cold. So do something that relaxes you: Listen to music, meditate, or do a light workout. And remember to rest, Estores says. Your body needs that, too.

How to get a cold when you are stressed?

Listen to your body when you feel a cold coming on. Get all the sleep you can. Try to manage on your stress, too. "When you’re stressed out, you’re more likely to get a cold," Estores says. Usually when you feel a cold coming on, your immune system jumps in and fights the virus.

What to do when your cough fades?

To feel better until it fades, start with over-the-counter medications like antihistamines with decongestants. You can take pain medicine like ibuprofen and aceta minophen for aches and pains. Don’t give a child younger than 4 years any cough or cold medicine, due to safety risks in children that young.

What to do when you have a stuffy nose?

When you have a stuffy head or nose, fluids are your friend. They’ll help unclog your nose and thin any mucus so you can cough or blow it out, says Jean Carstensen, MD, who teaches medicine and pediatrics at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

Can you feel tired when you have a cold?

Estores, MD, of University of Florida Health. If you feel tired, overworked, sad, or angry, those emotions can sink your mood. That can slow your immune system just when you need it running at full power to fight the cold virus.

What are some home remedies for the common cold?

Many home remedies are popular treatments for the common cold. These include vitamin C, zinc supplements, and echinacea. Although not proven to be helpful, most home remedies are safe for most people. Some remedies may cause side effects or allergic reactions. Certain remedies may change the way other medicines work.

How long does it take for a cold to get better?

Colds are very common. A visit to your health care provider's office is often not needed, and colds often get better in 3 to 4 days. A type of germ called a virus causes most colds. There are many types of viruses that can cause a cold. Depending on what virus you have, your symptoms may vary.

How to stop germs from spreading?

Wash your hands often. This is the best way to stop the spread of germs. To wash your hands correctly: Rub soap onto wet hands for 20 seconds. Make sure to get under your fingernails. Dry your hands with a clean paper towel and turn faucet off with paper towel. You can also use alcohol-based hand sanitizers.

How to get rid of a cold if you have asthma?

Wheezing can be a common symptom of a cold if you have asthma. Use your rescue inhaler as prescribed if you are wheezing. See your provider immediately if it becomes hard to breathe.

What are the symptoms of a cold?

Common symptoms of a cold include: Fever (100°F [37.7°C] or higher) and chills. Headache, sore muscles, and fatigue. Cough. Nasal symptoms, such as stuffiness, runny nose, yellow or green snot, and sneezing. Sore throat. Mild symptoms of COVID-19 may be similar to those of the common cold.

Can you use cough syrup for sore throat?

So use cough syrups only when your cough becomes too painful. Throat lozenges or sprays for your sore throat. Many cough and cold medicines you buy have more than one medicine inside. Read the labels carefully to make sure you do not take too much of any one medicine.

Does Tylenol help with colds?

Treating your symptoms will not make your cold go away, but will help you feel better. Antibiotics are almost never needed to treat a common cold. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) help lower fever and relieve muscle aches. Do not use aspirin.

What is the best over the counter medicine for colds?

To treat coughs, Oostman said his best advice is to look for cough medicines with dextromethorphan (one brand is Robitussin) or guaifenesin (such as Mucinex ).

How to get rid of mucus in nose?

If you’re not well-hydrated, it’s harder to blow out the mucus. Oostman recommends using a nasal saline spray and gargling with warm saltwater to break up the mucus and keep things moving.

Does ibuprofen help with respiratory infections?

The results showed no benefit in using ibuprofen in combination with or instead of paracetamol in relieving cold ...

Is steam inhalation effective?

Steam inhalation was also ineffective. In fact, the study showed that return visits to the doctor for new or unresolved symptoms were more common among those who took ibuprofen than those who took acetaminophen (20 percent vs. 12 percent).

Is ibuprofen good for colds?

Ibuprofen may be powerless when it comes to treating the common cold. A new British study found the popular pain reliever ineffective at treating symptoms like sore throat, cough, and sinus pain associated with respiratory tract infections, such as colds. Doctors often recommend ibuprofen either alone or in combination with acetaminophen ...

How to treat cold symptoms?

Here’s the key: Don’t wait until you feel the symptoms coming on: Take the recommended dose every day. Taking vitamin C when a cold starts may not have much effect on how you feel or how long the cold hangs on. 2. Zinc.

How to get rid of a cold?

Lots of liquids. Drinking plenty of fluids is always good when you’re trying to get rid of a cold. Hot tea, water, chicken soup, and other liquids will keep you hydrated, especially if you have a fever. They can also loosen congestion in your chest and nasal passages so you can breathe.

What is the best medicine for colds?

Black elderberry syrup. Black elderberry is a traditional remedy used to fight colds in many parts of the world. Although research is limited, at least one older study. showed elderberry syrup shortened the length of colds in people with flu-like symptoms by an average of four days.

What is the best drink to reduce the duration of a cold?

Probiotic drinks. Although studies on probiotics and colds are limited, at least one study. Trusted Source. suggests that drinking a probiotic drink that contains Lactobacillus, L. casei 431, can reduce the duration of a cold, especially in regard to respiratory symptoms.

How to make a cold last longer?

Here’s a list of remedies known to make a difference in how long colds last: 1. Vitamin C. Taking a vitamin C supplement isn’t likely to prevent a cold. However, studies show that it may reduce the duration of colds.

How to help a child with a cold?

If your child is having trouble getting good sleep to beat a cold, try honey, one of the most relied-on remedies for treating cold symptoms. A 2012 study. Trusted Source. showed that a spoonful of honey at bedtime can help kids sleep better and reduce nighttime coughing. It can also help soothe a sore throat.

Can you cure a cold?

There’s no cure yet for the common cold, but you may be able to shorten the amount of time you’re sick by trying some promising supplements and practicing good self-care. Stroll the aisles of any drugstore and you’ll see an impressive range of products claiming to shorten the length of your cold. Few of them are backed by solid science.

What is the best way to cure a cold?

Many cultures have a home remedy for the cold using garlic, whether it’s chicken soup with lots of garlic, a drink made with raw crushed garlic, or if it just involves eating raw garlic. The cold-fighting compound in garlic is thought to be allicin, which has demonstrated antibacterial and antifungal properties.

How long does zinc help with colds?

A number of studies have found that zinc helped to reduce the duration of cold symptoms, especially if people started taking it within 24 hours after cold symptoms appear. 1  Zinc also reduced the severity of symptoms and decreased the duration of symptoms by three to four days.

How long does it take for a cold to show up?

Symptoms of the common cold, which usually appear one to three days after being exposed to a cold virus include a runny nose, cough, nasal congestion, sore throat, sneezing, watery eyes, mild headache, mild fatigue, body aches, and fever less than 102 degrees. Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin.

Does zinc help with cold virus?

The problem is that many of these zinc studies have had flaws, so better-quality studies are needed. Zinc lozenges may work by blocking the cold virus from replicating (preventing it from spreading) or by impairing the ability of the cold virus to enter cells in the nose and throat.

Does garlic help with colds?

People who took garlic reduced the risk of catching a cold by more than half. The study also found that garlic reduced the recovery time in people who caught a cold. More research is needed to corroborate these results. Garlic does have some possible side effects and safety concerns.

Can alternative medicine be used for colds?

Keep in mind that scientific support for the claim that any remedy can treat colds is lacking and that alternative medicine should not be used as a substitute for standard care. If you're considering the use of any remedy for a cold, make sure to consult your physician first.

Does cold fx reduce the flu?

There was no statistically significant difference in the number of people who contracted the flu and no difference in the severity or duration of the flu. The researchers analyzed the results of the two studies together and only then did the results show that Cold-fX reduced the incidence of the flu.

How to get rid of a cold?

Drink 8 glasses of water every day to stay hydrated. Dehydration can make a cold even worse, so it’s important that you drink 8 glasses of water every day. Drinking more fluids will also help loosen mucus in your nose and throat so you feel less congested. [6]

How to get rid of a cold virus?

The only way to get rid of a cold virus is to let it run its course, although eating right, staying hydrated, and getting enough sleep can increase your body's ability to fight it off quickly. Acetaminophen can help ease the pain caused by cold symptoms, though, so don't be afraid to take it while you have a cold.

How to shorten a cold?

Give vitamin C or echinacea supplements a try to shorten your cold. While the evidence is unclear, some studies suggest that vitamin C and echinacea can help lessen the severity of a cold. Since these supplements aren’t harmful, you may want to give them a try and see if they help stop or shorten your cold. [14]

How to get rid of sore throat?

Gargling with salt water can help reduce inflammation in your throat and flush out mucus. To gargle salt water, stir 1⁄2 teaspoon (2.5 mL) of salt into a glass of warm water and gargle some of it for 30 seconds.

What to take for a sore throat?

Take acetaminophen or an NSAID if you have a sore throat, headache, or fever. Acetaminophen and NSAIDs are both pain relievers that can help relieve the symptoms of your cold. Follow the dosage instructions on the packaging and don’t take more than the 24 hour dosage limit. [12]

How to get rid of congestion in nasal cavity?

Take a hot shower to help with nasal congestion. Feeling stuffy and congested can make a cold feel a lot worse. To get rid of that stuffy feeling, hop in the shower and stay in there for longer than usual so some steam has time to build up. The steam from the shower should help temporarily alleviate your congestion.

How to get rid of congestion in nose?

The steam from the shower should help temporarily alleviate your congestion. Use a saline nasal spray if you’re still feeling stuffy. Saline nasal sprays are saltwater sprays that you flush your nose with to decongest it. Use the saline nasal spray to prevent mucus from building up and clogging your nose.

How to avoid a cold?

The best way to avoid a cold is to prevent the spread of viruses by staying away from people who have colds and washing the hands with soap regularly. Last medically reviewed on July 21, 2020. Flu / Cold / SARS. Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses.

How long does it take for a cold to go away?

Recovery time. When someone has a cold, their symptoms usually peak in 2–3 days. Trusted Source. and start to get better within 10–14 days. The American Lung Association state that colds may last longer in older adults and people with pre-existing health conditions. The symptoms of a cold can include: sneezing.

What are the symptoms of a cold?

The symptoms of a cold can include: sneezing. a stuffy or runny nose. a sore throat. coughing. postnasal drip. watery eyes. People with a cold can also develop a fever, but this is a less common symptom. A fever is more common in influenza (flu).

How many viruses can cause a cold?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Trusted Source. , over 200 viruses can cause a cold. The most common type are rhinoviruses. These are highly contagious viruses that spread from person to person through human contact or droplets that people expel into the air when they cough or sneeze.

How to help a sore throat?

using a clean air humidifier. using saline nasal spray or drops. inhaling steam from a bowl of hot water, or in the shower. sucking throat lozenges to soothe a sore throat. using honey to relieve a cough. Children over the age of 1 can also benefit from honey if they have a cough.

How long does a fever last?

a fever that lasts longer than 4 days. symptoms that last longer than 10 days with no improvement. symptoms that go away but then comes back or worsen. worsened symptoms of pre-existing chronic health conditions.

Does zinc help with colds?

A 2019 randomized controlled trial concluded that there was no observable difference in the cold recovery rates of people who took zinc lozenges versus those who did not. However, the 2020 review states that zinc supplementation could reduce colds from occurring in children under 10 years old by up to 53%.

What are the symptoms of the flu and the cold?

Many symptoms of these two illnesses are similar. But there are some key differences: A fever, headache , and other aches and pains are common with the flu but less so with colds. People who have colds usually have a stuffy nose and sore throat. That's less common when you have the flu.

What is the best pain reliever?

Some good choices for pain relief are acetaminophen or NSAIDs like aspirin, ibuprofen, ketoprofen, and naproxen. Both acetaminophen and NSAIDs can lower your fever and ease muscle aches.

Can you take aspirin with chickenpox?

Children and teens with chickenpox, the flu, or a fever shouldn't take aspirin because of the risk of Reye's syndrome, a potentially serious medical condition. And the FDA and drugmakers say that over-the-counter cough and cold medicines should not be given to children under age 4.

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