So you’ve caught a cold. Again. For the umpteenth time this season. While there is no known cure for a cold ― other than time ― the good news is that if you follow some of these simple tips, you’ll feel a lot better.
Know your enemy
The common cold is caused by a virus and causes upper respiratory tract (i.e., nose and throat) symptoms that you’re all too familiar with. Your nose is runny, stuffed up, and you’re prone to sneezing. You may have an annoying cough. And if you’re really unlucky, you have a bit of a headache, low-grade fever, and mild body aches, too. You’ll probably recover within 7-10 days, unless you smoke, in which case your illness may drag on for longer.
All this gives you clues as to how to treat it.
How to feel better while you ride it out
Since you can’t cure this, you have no choice but to ride it out. But that doesn’t mean you have to suffer needlessly.
A humidifier in your home or workplace can help to improve your stuffy nose and cough. A warm mug of tea can also be soothing. You should also try saline drops to moisturize and unblock your nose.
Additionally, there are many over-the-counter medications (i.e., you can buy them without seeing your doctor for a prescription) that can help to mask the symptoms you’re feeling. If you only have a mild cold, these medications may even help you to feel almost normal when taking them.
Before trying any of the medications discussed below, be sure to ask your doctor or pharmacist about whether or not you’re a good candidate for taking them. Although most people are able to take them with no issues, some people have medical conditions that can be negatively impacted.
Stop your runny nose in its tracks
Look for medications that contain first-generation antihistamines. These are sometimes helpful in drying up a runny nose so you’re not having to carry a Kleenex around with you 24/7 to mop up the mess.
Examples of first generation antihistamines include diphenhydramine and chlorpheniramine.
But be on the lookout for drowsiness and dizziness if you take these. Diphenhydramine is notorious for making people feel sedated, so is best avoided during waking hours if at all possible. Chlorpheniramine can also cause drowsiness, but is much less likely to do so ― that makes this a better choice for daytime relief of a runny nose.
Un-stuff your stuffy nose
Having a stuffy nose feels lousy ― it can affect the way your food tastes and make your voice sound nasal. Plus, because it forces you to breathe through your mouth, your mouth may feel dry. Decongestant medications such as pseudoephedrine or phenylephrine can be a huge help in alleviating these symptoms and clearing your sinuses.
Tame your cough
If you have a cough, you can consider medications like dextromethorphan for relief. It’s available in convenient twice daily dosing (Delsym), or more frequent three to four times daily dosing (Benylin DM). It’s also worth experimenting with lozenges, most of which contain menthol to cool your scratchy throat. When comparing products you should look at the list of active ingredients to see how much menthol different brands of lozenges contain ― the more menthol, the stronger the effect and taste.
Get rid of fever and muscle aches
If your fever is less than 102 F, there’s no need to treat it ― just ride it out. If your fever is over 102 F and bothering you, you can take a medication that contains either acetaminophen or ibuprofen. If your fever does not go down after taking medication to treat it, is over 103 F consistently, or lasts more than three days, get yourself checked out by a doctor to make sure your cold hasn’t turned into something requiring different treatment.
Note that for infants, treatment is more conservative. Call the pediatrician if your baby under three months old has a rectal temperature that’s higher than 100.4 F. If your baby is between three and six months of age, and their rectal temperature is less than 102 F, medication isn’t required ― if it goes above 102 F, contact their physician for guidance. For children from 6-24 months of age with a fever above 102 F, treat it with acetaminophen or ibuprofen and contact their doctor if the fever lasts more than 24 hours. In all cases, the doctor should be consulted if your baby is unusually irritable, lethargic, or experiencing significant discomfort.
If you have muscle aches, you can try to soothe them with a warm bath. Alternatively, you can treat the discomfort with a medication containing either acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
Antibiotics won’t help
Don’t ask your doctor for antibiotics. Antibiotics are medicines that can be very effective against bacteria, but are completely useless against viruses, including the ones that cause the common cold. So whatever you do, don’t waste a dime on antibiotics the next time you catch a cold, unless your doctor also diagnoses you with a bacterial infection that requires them.
The common cold isn’t fun, but you can ride it out more comfortably
The next time you catch the common cold, don’t suffer its symptoms needlessly. Symptoms such as cough, stuffy or runny nose, fever, and muscle aches can all be improved with readily available over the counter medications and simple solutions such as the use of a humidifier.