How to Manage Common Cold?

There's no exact treatment for the common cold. However, some simple measures help relieve symptoms and eliminate viruses, which cause the common cold.

You should keep up the hydration of your body by drinking an adequate amount of fluids. Avoid drinks containing caffeine and alcohol. Sufficient hydration of your body will help relieve congestion and flow mucous (nasal secretions) easily. Although you have a loss of appetite, it is better you have a balanced healthy diet. Some studies show that chicken soup helps reduce the symptoms. Eating hot and spicy meals may relieve the illness because, they help flow nasal secretions. Dietary nutrients will assist the immune system to eliminate viruses from your body and shorten the duration of the common cold. Your diet should contain adequate amounts of vitamins A, B1, B2, B5, B6, folic acid, C, and the minerals copper and zinc. Zinc and vitamin C help produce a type of white blood cells known as neutrophils, which fight against infections. Zinc may reduce the duration of the illness, if the patient takes zinc in the first day of the common cold. Vitamin C may prevent the cold. However, it has no effect during the illness.

Adequate rest is an essential factor to manage the common cold. It is advisable to rest in a humid, warm environment because, dry or cold air may worsen your symptoms. Avoid cigarette smoking at all.

Take Acetaminophen to relieve fever or headache rather than using Aspirin. You should give your child the correct dose of Acetaminophen because, the overdose will harm the child. Aspirin has been linked with the risk of developing Reye’s syndrome in children with viral infections. It is somewhat a rare but fatal condition and mainly occurs in children aged three to twelve years. Usually, Reye’s syndrome affects all organ systems of the body. However, it mainly harms the liver and brain. Therefore, it may cause permanent, serious brain damage or even death. Children and teenagers with any viral fever should not be offered Aspirin or medication containing Aspirin.

Use ice chips, lozenges, or throat sprays or gargle with warm water or salt water to relieve your sore throat. Use petroleum jelly to relieve your dry nose. Steam inhalation will also help liquefy secretions and facilitate drainage.

Use a saline nasal spray or a nasal decongestant to ease your nasal symptoms. Over-the-counter (OTC) cold and flu medicines, including cough suppressants and nasal decongestants, may help ease some cold symptoms. However, they have some adverse effects like dizziness, drowsiness, restlessness, lack of sleep (insomnia), and abdominal discomfort. They won’t prevent or shorten the duration of the common cold. Children under age four should not be offered OTC cough and cold medications because, these medications are not effective and safe for them, especially for those below the age two. OTC decongestant medications, which contain Pseudoephedrine, may help clear and dry your nasal cavities temporarily. Decongestant nasal sprays will help ease your symptoms. However, they should be used for less than three to five days. These medications may cause the rebound effect, if you use them for a longer period. The rebound effect means worsening of congestion and increased nasal secretions following discontinuation of  the drug. Pseudoephedrine can raise your heart rate and blood pressure. It is not recommended to use OTC medications, which contain Pseudoephedrine, if you have hypertension, heart diseases, thyroid diseases, prostate diseases, or diabetes mellitus.

OTC antihistamine drugs may help reduce inflammation hence some symptoms like watery eyes and runny nose in some people with cold.

You can use OTC cough suppressants, which contain dextromethorphan, only if you have a severe cough. Usually, coughing helps remove secretions and viruses from your lungs and throat. You should always cover your mouth, whenever you cough or sneeze to minimise the spread of the virus containing droplets.

Antibiotics are not recommended to treat the common cold because, they have no effect against the illness. Especially, they do not prevent secondary bacterial infections associated with the common cold. If you have any symptom of the cold complications, you should see your GP. Your doctor will offer antibiotics, if you already have a secondary bacterial infection with the common cold.



Related Links:

What Is the Common Cold?
Complications of the Common Cold
Can You Really Prevent the Common Cold?