Cure a head cold

Common cold - Diagnosis and treatment

Diagnosis

In general, you don't need to see the doctor for a common cold. But if symptoms worsen or don't go away, it might be time to see your doctor.

Most people with a common cold can be diagnosed by their signs and symptoms. If your doctor suspects that you have a bacterial infection or other condition, he or she may order a chest X-ray or other tests to rule out other causes of your symptoms.

Treatment

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.

Antibiotics are of no use against cold viruses and shouldn't be used unless there's a bacterial infection.

Relieving your symptoms can include using over-the-counter (OTC) medication to reduce fever, body aches, congestion and cough. Some remedies might help ease your symptoms and keep you from feeling so miserable. 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.

Pain relievers

For a fever, sore throat and headache, adults often turn to OTC acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or other mild pain relievers such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others).

For treatment of fever or pain in children, consider giving your child infants' or children's over-the-counter fever and pain medications such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others). These are safer alternatives to aspirin.

For children younger than 3 months old, don't give acetaminophen until your baby has been seen by a doctor. Don't give ibuprofen to a child younger than 6 months old or to children who are vomiting constantly or are dehydrated.

Use these medications for the shortest time possible and follow label directions to avoid side effects. Call your doctor if you have questions about the right dose.

Aspirin is not recommended for children or teenagers. Though aspirin is approved for use in children older than age 3, children and teenagers recovering from chickenpox or flu-like symptoms should never take aspirin. This is because aspirin has been linked to Reye's syndrome, a rare but potentially life-threatening condition, in such children.

Decongestant nasal sprays

Adults can use decongestant drops or sprays for up to five days. Prolonged use can cause rebound symptoms. Children younger than 6 years old shouldn't use decongestant drops or sprays. Talk to your doctor before using nasal decongestants in children older than 6 years.

Cough syrups

Over-the-counter cough and cold medicines are intended to treat the symptoms of coughs and colds, not the underlying disease. Research suggests that these medicines haven't been proved to work any better to treat colds than do inactive medicine (placebo).

If you use over-the counter cough and cold medicines, follow the label directions. Don't take two medicines with the same active ingredient, such as an antihistamine, decongestant or pain reliever. Too much of a single ingredient could lead to an accidental overdose.

Don't use over-the-counter medicines, except for fever reducers and pain relievers, to treat coughs and colds in children younger than 6 years old. Cough and cold medications have potentially serious side effects, including fatal overdoses in children younger than 2 years old. Also consider avoiding use of these medicines for children younger than 12 years old. And it isn't typically recommended that you give cough or cold medicines to an older child.

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Lifestyle and home remedies

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. Chicken soup and other warm fluids, such as tea or warm apple juice, can be soothing and can loosen congestion. Honey may help coughs in adults and children who are older than age 1. Try it in hot tea.
Rest. If possible, stay home from work or school if you have a fever or a bad cough or are drowsy after taking medications. 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. Keep your room warm, but not overheated. If the air is dry, a cool-mist humidifier or vaporizer can moisten the air and help ease congestion and coughing. Clean your humidifier according to the manufacturer's directions to prevent the growth of bacteria and molds.
Soothe a sore throat. A saltwater gargle of 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon (1250-2500 milligrams) of table salt in 4 to 8 ounces (120 to 240 milliliters) of warm water can help soothe a sore throat. Gargle the solution and then spit it out. Children younger than 6 years are unlikely to be able to gargle properly.

You can also try ice chips, lozenges or hard candy. Use caution when giving lozenges or hard candy to children because they can choke on them. Don't give lozenges or hard candy to children younger than 6 years.

Try saline nasal drops or sprays. Saline nasal drops or sprays can keep nasal passages moist and loosen mucus. You can buy these products over-the-counter, and they can help relieve symptoms, even in children.

In infants and younger children, apply saline nasal drops, wait for a short period and then use a suction bulb to draw mucus out of each nostril. Insert the bulb syringe about 1/4 to 1/2 inch (6 to 12 millimeters). For older children, use a saline nasal spray or saline nasal irrigation.

More Information

Cold remedies
Humidifiers
Neti pot: Can it clear your nose?
Vicks VapoRub: An effective nasal decongestant?
Warm-mist versus cool-mist humidifier: Which is better for a cold?

Alternative medicine

In spite of ongoing studies, the scientific jury is still out on common alternative cold remedies such as vitamin C, echinacea and zinc. Because alternative cold remedies have not been studied in children, they are generally not recommended for use in children. Here's an update on some popular choices:

Vitamin C

It appears that for the most part taking vitamin C won't help the average person prevent colds. However, some studies have found that taking vitamin C before cold symptoms start may shorten the length of time you have symptoms.

Echinacea

Study results on whether echinacea prevents or shortens colds are mixed. Some studies show no benefit. Others show some reduction in the severity and duration of cold symptoms when taken in the early stages of a cold. Different types of echinacea used in different studies may have contributed to the mixed results.

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. Check with your doctor before taking echinacea or any other supplement.

Zinc

Several studies have suggested that zinc supplements may reduce the length of a cold. But research has turned up mixed results about zinc and colds.

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. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning against using zinc-containing nasal cold remedies because they are associated with a long-lasting or permanent loss of smell.

Talk to your doctor before considering the use of zinc to prevent or reduce the length of colds.

More Information

Do zinc supplements shorten colds?

Preparing for your appointment

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 you can do

Make a list of:

Your or your child's symptoms and when they began
Key personal information, including major stresses, other health conditions and exposure to people who've been ill
Medications, vitamins or supplements you or your child takes
Questions to ask your doctor

For a common cold, questions to ask your doctor may include:

What's likely causing these symptoms?
Are there other possible causes?
Are tests needed?
What treatment approach do you recommend?
What treatments should be avoided?
How soon do you expect symptoms to improve?
Am I or my child contagious? When is it safe to return to school or work?
What self-care steps might help?
I or my child has other health conditions. How can we manage them together?

Don't hesitate to ask other questions during your appointment.

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor is likely to ask you questions, such as:

How long have you had symptoms?
Have symptoms been continuous?
How severe are the symptoms?
Did symptoms improve and then worsen?
What, if anything, seems to improve the symptoms?
What, if anything, worsens symptoms?

Your doctor will ask additional questions based on your responses, symptoms and needs. Preparing and anticipating questions will help you make the most of your time with the doctor.

By Mayo Clinic Staff

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15 Tips & Home Remedies to Get Rid of Cold Symptoms │ Vicks

As soon as cold symptoms hit, you want to get rid of them quickly. It’s hard to focus on the things you love to do when your nose feels stuffy and runny, you can’t stop sneezing, and your throat feels scratchy.

Maybe you’ve heard your doctor, family member, or friend say that there is no cure for the common cold. Unfortunately, they’re correct. Over 200 viruses can cause the common cold, but it’s most commonly caused by a group of viruses known as rhinoviruses.¹

To date, there are no antiviral medications that can fight the viruses that cause the common cold. Also, you can’t treat the common cold with antibiotics as these are only used to treat infections caused by bacteria.

The good news? You don’t need to suffer with the symptoms while your body fights off the cold virus. Over-the-counter medicines like DayQuil SEVERE and NyQuil SEVERE can help relieve your toughest cold symptoms.

15 Tips to Get Rid of Cold Symptoms

Drink lots of fluids.

Staying hydrated with lots of fluids can thin your mucus and make it easier for you to drain it from your nose and sinuses.² Fluids also help to keep the mucous membranes lubricated, which means that you can help eliminate that feeling of dryness in your nose. ³

Drink warm liquids.

Fluids are great, but warm drinks are soothing and make you comfortable when you have a cold. Medicated hot drinks offer relief for your cough and sore-throat symptoms by soothing the inflamed membranes that line your nose and throat.⁴ For relief of cold symptoms like nasal congestion, sore throat, cough, and more, dissolve a packet of Vicks FluTherapy SEVERE Day-Time into a glass of 8 oz. hot water, stir, and sip while hot, within 10-15 minutes.

Sleep it off

Sleep is essential for your body to rest and heal. Research shows that when you’re sleeping, your body makes proteins called cytokines, which are important for fighting infection and inflammation.⁵

Do your best to adjust your sleep schedule to get that extra rest that will help your body fight off the cold virus.

Meditate

Keep stress at bay so your body can focus on keeping your immune system in check. Daily meditation breaks can ease stress and help you stay calm: Just close your eyes and focus on your breathing for a few minutes (or longer if you can swing it!).

Use saline nasal drops and sprays.

A saline nasal spray helps to keep nasal passages open by washing out any thick or dried mucus resulting in a more fluid mucus that can drain faster.

Use a neti pot.

You can use a neti pot to rinse particles or mucus from your nose. A neti pot is specially designed to help you flush out mucus. To use it, bend your head sideways over the sink and place the spout of the neti pot in the upper nostril, and then pour a saltwater solution into your upper nostril and let the water drain down the lower nose.⁶ You can also use other devices such as squeeze bottles and pressurized canisters in place of a neti pot.

Gargle saltwater.

You can gargle with water containing salt to get relief for a sore throat from a cold. The recommended measurement is ¼ to ½ teaspoon of salt dissolved in an 8-ounce glass of warm water.⁷ The high-salt barrier can pull out a lot of fluids from the tissues in your throat.⁷

Add moisture to the air.

Use a humidifier or cool mist vaporizer in your bedroom to add moisture back into the air while you sleep. Dry air may further cause irritation inside nose and throat.⁸

Breathe in some steamy air.

The next time you have a cold that gives you a stuffy nose, try sitting in the bathroom with a warm shower running. You can also breathe in steam from a bowl of hot water. Inhaling warm (not hot) steam can make the mucus thinner,² which will help your mucus drain better.

Soothe your cough.

When you feel under the weather, it’s hard to feel better; your cold won’t let the cough symptoms quit.

Vicks VapoRub has helped relieve coughs for over 125 years. Rub it on your throat and chest and breathe in the medicated vapors with the familiar scents of eucalyptus, menthol, and camphor to help relieve your cough from a cold.

Adjust your sleeping position

When you lie horizontally, your mucus will be at a standstill. This can result in congestion and cough. When you go to bed, try propping your head up with pillows to help gravity work better for you.⁹ Sleeping at a sloped angle allows the fluid in your sinuses to keep flowing to avoid congestion and other cold symptoms.

Keep things clean

It’s just as important to keep the virus from spreading to your friends and family as it is to relieve your own symptoms. Make sure to clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at home and work. Be especially mindful to do so during cold and flu season, or whenever someone around you is sick. Better yet?

Stay home from work and avoid spreading the cold virus to those around you. ¹³

Eat foods that support your immune system

Foods with vitamin C can help to maintain your immune system and get you back to normal quicker.¹⁰ Examples of foods that have vitamin C include fruits like oranges, lemons, strawberries, red peppers, mangoes, broccoli, and other fruits and vegetables.¹⁰

Eat lots of vegetables, herbs, and spices

When you have a cold, you should target any treatment that reduces inflammation. Eat lots of vegetables, herbs, and spices. Examples of vegetables that can support your immune system are red bell peppers and broccoli.¹⁰ Certain spices, for example, curry, garlic, and astragalus are known for treating inflammation.^11–12

Use the right over-the-counter (OTC) meds

Non-prescription medicine can help ease your cold symptoms. Although Vicks products cannot cure a cold, they can help you feel better. NyQuil Cold & Flu and DayQuil Cold & Flu are both good options since they contain a pain reliever/fever reducer and cough suppressant. If you’re suffering from additional symptoms, try NyQuil SEVERE Cold & Flu, which also contains a nasal decongestant and DayQuil SEVERE Cold & Flu, which contains an expectorant to help loosen phlegm (mucus) and thin bronchial secretions to make coughs more productive.

Although there is no cure for the common cold, these 15 tips to get rid of a cold can alleviate your symptoms and allow you to get back to your routine activities soon.

Understanding a Common Cold Virus. National Institutes of Health (NIH). Published May 22, 2015. Accessed June 12, 2020. https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/understanding-common-cold-virus
Home Remedies: Self-help for sinusitis. https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/. Accessed June 16, 2020. https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/home-remedies-self-help-for-sinusitis/
In-Depth Reports - Penn State Hershey Medical Center - Sinusitis - Penn State Hershey Medical Center. Accessed June 16, 2020. http://pennstatehershey.adam.com/content.aspx?productid=10&pid=10&gid=000062
How does drinking hot liquids help a cold or the flu? Accessed June 16, 2020. https://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/qa/how-does-drinking-hot-liquids-help-a-cold-or-the-flu
Besedovsky L, Lange T, Born J. Sleep and immune function. Pflüg Arch - Eur J Physiol. 2012;463(1):121-137. doi:10.1007/s00424-011-1044-0
Can a neti pot relieve your cold and sinus symptoms? Mayo Clinic. Accessed June 12, 2020. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/common-cold/expert-answers/neti-pot/faq-20058305
Does Gargling Wlth Salt Water Ease a Sore Throat? WebMD. Accessed June 12, 2020. https://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/features/does-gargling-wlth-salt-water-ease-a-sore-throat
How to Use a Humidifier for Sinus the Right Way | Everyday Health. EverydayHealth.com. Accessed June 16, 2020. https://www.everydayhealth.com/ear-nose-throat/humidifier-for-sinusitis. aspx
6 Ways to Sleep Soundly When You Have a Cold, a Cough, or the Flu. Sleep.org. Accessed June 13, 2020. https://www.sleep.org/articles/6-ways-sleep-off-cold/
Foods To Boost the Immune System. Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. Accessed June 17, 2020. https://www.pcrm.org/news/blog/foods-boost-immune-system
Miller LG. Herbal Medicinals: Selected Clinical Considerations Focusing on Known or Potential Drug-Herb Interactions. Arch Intern Med. 1998;158(20):2200-2211. doi:10.1001/archinte.158.20.2200
Sandjo LP, Zingue S, Dos Santos Nascimento MV, et al. Cytotoxicity, antiprotozoal, and anti-inflammatory activities of eight curry powders and comparison of their UPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS chemical profiles. J Sci Food Agric. 2019;99(6):2987-2997. doi:10.1002/jsfa.9512
Common Colds: Protect Yourself and Others. CDC.gov. https://www.cdc.gov/features/rhinoviruses/index.html. Accessed June 26, 2020.

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Is it possible to cure a runny nose quickly? 7 tips from an otorhinolaryngologist

Enroll

August 18, 2021 read 4-6 minutes

A runny nose seems to be a frivolous problem, at the same time it significantly affects the general well-being and reduces personal efficiency.

Be prepared to go through all stages

Runny nose is one of the manifestations of a viral disease that has a certain staging (autochthonism). When you become infected, the body must go through all the stages of inflammation, the last of which is recovery. It is rightly said: "If you treat a runny nose, then it will pass within seven days, and if not treated, then in a week." Therefore, there are no remedies that allow you to quickly get rid of or "cure" from the common cold. Moreover, a runny nose does not always occur with viral infections. It is also observed in allergic rhinitis or sinusitis, therefore, if your runny nose has a longer duration, I recommend not to leave it unattended and consult a doctor. nine0003

Use proven products

Traditional medicine, which was once almost the basis for doctors of various specialties, is becoming a thing of the past. Scientific research allows us to evaluate the true effects of certain drugs for the treatment of various pathologies. So, for example, it was found that the use of garlic may have a beneficial effect in the prevention of colds, but there is little scientific evidence for this. Therefore, I urge you to be wary of folk remedies, since most of them have not been tested by scientific research or it has been proven that they are not effective. nine0003

What folk remedies help with a cold

If you still want to use proven methods of traditional medicine, then you should pay attention to those remedies that have little effectiveness. For example, drinking a large amount of liquid allows you to effectively thin out the mucus that is produced in large quantities during a cold. Drink hot tea, it will help alleviate the symptoms of a cold due to high temperature vapors. Add natural decongestants to it (drugs that relieve swelling of the mucous membrane): mint, menthol and chamomile. These medicinal plants will help ease nasal breathing. It used to be thought that topical warming (hot showers or inhaling hot vapors) could be effective in reducing nasal congestion and runny noses, but modern scientific evidence has shown little effectiveness for this practice. nine0003

Salt is the best remedy for a cold

Saline solutions are one of the oldest remedies used by mankind to combat the common cold. The first mention of this method of treatment dates back to the 3rd century BC, when the Hindu tribes developed special teapots for the nose, in which sea water was added. Salt solutions have a number of useful properties and help reduce swelling, as well as facilitate the discharge of mucus. A decrease in the amount of secretions occurs due to an increase in the protective properties of the mucous membrane and its ability to self-clean. Saline solutions can be used from a very early age, they are available in the form of sprays or special bottles for washing. nine0003

Be careful with vasoconstrictor sprays and drops

This class of drugs is not particularly effective in reducing mucosal edema and only helps to temporarily reduce the amount of discharge. You should follow the basic rules and restrictions in their use. According to current scientific data, vasoconstrictors can be used for about 3-5 days, but longer use can be addictive. This is literally dependence on drops - a serious problem in modern ENT practice. Moreover, their use is not recommended in pediatric practice or in patients with ocular (glaucoma) or cardiovascular pathologies (hypertension) due to undesirable side effects. nine0003

What is better not to treat a runny nose?

Of course, in addition to the drugs described above, other drugs can be recommended. These include antihistamines and topical antibacterials, colloidal silver sprays, and mucus-thinning medications. However, scientists talk about the weak effectiveness of these classes of drugs in the treatment of colds. For example: a review study showed that antihistamines have little effect on the symptoms of SARS on the first and second days of treatment, but do not affect the runny nose or nasal congestion. Therefore, it is better to check with the doctor for what purpose antihistamines are prescribed. And, if for the treatment of a cold, then it is better not to use them. nine0003

If a runny nose does not go away - go to the doctor

As already mentioned, the most common cause of a runny nose is SARS and other colds. But not only they can cause a runny nose. The list of reasons is quite large, the most important thing to understand is that a cold runny nose does not last more than seven to ten days. If a runny nose is observed for more than ten days, the color of the discharge changes and other complaints appear (pain in the face, severe nasal congestion, headache) or inflammation occurs on one side, you should consult a doctor. Sometimes a banal runny nose can hide serious diseases that require specialist advice. nine0003

Pediatric otorhinolaryngologist Otorhinolaryngologist / ENT Surgeon

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How to cure a runny nose: 7 doctor's advice

Health

Author Oleg Abramov

December 08, 2021

In the cold season, a runny nose happens to almost everyone. Together with a doctor, RBC Style is figuring out how to get rid of it without harming yourself. Otorhinolaryngologist Oleg Abramov tells how to approach the issue. nine0003

The author of the article is Oleg Abramov, Head of the Department of Operative Otorhinolaryngology at GMS Hospital, author of the blog @ent_expert

Advertising on RBC www. adv.rbc.ru

Be ready to go through all the stages

Runny nose is one of the manifestations of a viral disease that has a certain staging (autochthonism) [1]. When you become infected, the body must go through all the stages of inflammation, the last of which is recovery. It is true that they say: "If you treat a runny nose, then it will pass within seven days, and if you do not treat it, then in a week." Therefore, there are no remedies that allow you to quickly get rid of or "cure" from the common cold. Moreover, a runny nose does not always occur with viral infections. It is also observed in allergic rhinitis or sinusitis, therefore, if your runny nose is of a more prolonged nature, I recommend not to leave it unattended and consult a doctor. nine0003

Use proven products

Traditional medicine, which was once almost the basis for doctors of various specialties, is becoming a thing of the past. Scientific research allows us to evaluate the true effects of certain drugs for the treatment of various pathologies. For example, it was found that the use of garlic may have a beneficial effect in the prevention of colds, but there is little scientific evidence for this [2]. Therefore, I urge you to be wary of folk remedies, since most of them have not been tested by scientific research or have been proven to be ineffective. nine0003

What folk remedies help with a runny nose

If you still want to use proven methods of traditional medicine, then you should pay attention to those remedies that have little effectiveness. For example, drinking large amounts of liquid can effectively thin out the mucus that is produced in large quantities during a cold. Drink hot tea, it will help alleviate the symptoms of a cold due to the high temperature vapors. Add natural decongestants to it (remedies that relieve swelling of the mucous membrane): mint, menthol and chamomile. These medicinal plants will help ease nasal breathing. It used to be thought that topical warming (hot showers or inhaling hot vapors) could be effective in reducing nasal congestion and runny nose, but modern scientific evidence has shown little effectiveness for this practice [3]. nine0003

Salt is the best remedy for the common cold

Salt solutions are one of the oldest remedies used by mankind to fight the common cold. The first mention of this method of treatment dates back to the 3rd century BC, when the Hindu tribes developed special teapots for the nose, in which sea water was added. Salt solutions have a number of useful properties and help reduce swelling, as well as facilitate the discharge of mucus. The decrease in the amount of secretions occurs due to the increase in the protective properties of the mucous membrane and its ability to self-purify [4]. Saline solutions can be used from a very early age and come in the form of sprays or wash bottles. nine0003

Be careful with vasoconstrictor sprays and drops

This class of drugs is not particularly effective in reducing mucosal edema and only temporarily reduces the amount of discharge [5]. You should follow the basic rules and restrictions in their use. According to current scientific data, vasoconstrictors can be used for about 3-5 days, but longer use can be addictive. This is literally dependence on drops - a serious problem in modern ENT practice. Moreover, their use is not recommended in pediatric practice or in patients with ocular (glaucoma) or cardiovascular pathologies (hypertension) due to undesirable side effects. nine0003

What is better not to treat a runny nose?

Of course, in addition to the drugs described above, other drugs can be recommended. Among them are antihistamines and topical antibacterials, colloidal silver sprays, and mucus-thinning medications. However, scientists talk about the weak effectiveness of these classes of drugs in the treatment of colds. For example: a review study showed that antihistamines have little effect on the symptoms of SARS on the first and second days of treatment, but do not affect the runny nose or nasal congestion [6]. Therefore, it is better to check with the doctor for what purpose antihistamines are prescribed. And, if for the treatment of a cold, it is better not to use them. nine0003

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