Common Cold

Symptoms

Between one and three days after a cold virus enters the body, symptoms start developing, such as:

• runny nose
• congestion
• sneezing
• weakened senses of taste and smell
• scratchy throat
• cough

What Can Be Done If You Catch a Cold?

Over-the-counter medications can provide temporary relief of symptoms and should be used as soon as you feel a cold coming on.

Acetaminophen is the preferred over-the-counter medication for relief of the aches and pains associated with a cold. It is less likely to upset your stomach than other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen. Studies have shown that aspirin or any other NSAID may worsen asthma and/or peptic ulcers. Acetaminophen seems less likely to worsen asthma.

Congestion, cough and nasal discharge are best treated with a combination of decongestant and antihistamine. There are many over-the-counter cold remedies that contain both of these ingredients. REMEMBER to follow dosage instructions on all product labels and know what is in the medication you are taking. Many combination products – both prescription and over-the-counter—contain acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or aspirin. It is important to read the ingredients on each product label to avoid accidentally taking too much of these.

There are no antiviral medications available for treating the common cold. Antibiotics are not useful for treating a cold, and should only be taken to treat bacterial complications that arise from it.

Other Remedies

Herbs and minerals such as echinacea, eucalyptus, garlic, honey, lemon, menthol, zinc, and vitamin C have been getting a lot of publicity as cold remedies. However, none of these claims are solidly supported by scientific studies.

Adequate liquid intake is a must. Eight glasses of water and/or juice per day are recommended. This will help keep the lining of the nose and throat from drying out, so that mucus remains moist and easy to clear from the nose.

Avoid coffee, tea or cola drinks that contain caffeine. Also avoid any drinks that contain alcohol. Caffeine and alcohol lead to dehydration, the opposite of what you want.

Bed rest is a good idea for a speedy recovery.

If you smoke, stop! Stay away from other smokers; inhaling their smoke will further irritate your throat and make you cough even more.

What Can You Do to Prevent a Cold?

Colds are extremely difficult to prevent entirely. The following suggestions may help:

• Avoid close contact with people who have a cold, especially during the first few days when they are most likely to spread the infection.
• Wash your hands!
• Keep your fingers away from your nose and your eyes to avoid infecting yourself with cold virus particles that you may have picked up.
• Do not inflict your cold on others! Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, then throw the tissue away and wash your hands.

Complications of a Cold

Colds get better within a few days to weeks, whether or not you take medication. However, a cold virus can pave the way for other infections to invade the body, including sinus or ear infections, and bronchitis. A common complication is a sinus infection with a prolonged cough. Inhaled steroids may be useful. If you have asthma, chronic bronchitis, or emphysema, your symptoms of those conditions may be worsened for many weeks even after your cold has gone away.

Talk to your doctor if you experience any of the following

• unusually severe cold symptoms;
• high fever;
• ear pain;
• cough that gets worse while other cold symptoms improve; or flare-up of any chronic lung problem, such as asthma.