Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 3: Relieving Cold Symptoms
• Part 2 of 3: Make a Fast Recovery
• Part 3 of 3: Avoiding Misconceptions During Colds
• Tips
• Warnings

Unfortunately, there is no panacea for colds, but there are ways to help speed up recovery and make you feel better while you are sick. If you take good care of yourself, get enough sleep, drink enough fluids and eat right, then the hateful cold should disappear in no time!

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Relieving Cold Symptoms

1. 1 Dream. Getting enough sleep is one of the most important ways to help get rid of a nuisance like a cold. Your body is already fighting the battle against the disease and trying to get rid of it, and this, in turn, makes the body even more tired.
   • If possible, do not go to school or work. If this is not possible, make your lot a little easier. During lunch, go to the nurse's office and stay there until the end of the break.
2. 2 Replenishment of water losses. You need to avoid dehydration, which slows down the body's healing process. Drink plenty of water, orange juice, and tea. Avoid soda (even sugar-free) and coffee, because sugar and caffeine will strain your immune system, leading to a long recovery.
   • The hot liquid can especially help relieve a runny nose and soothe sore throat and nose. Try hot water with honey and lemon, or a good soothing mint tea.
   • Milk (and other dairy products) should not be consumed as they contribute to mucus production and make you feel worse.
3. 3 Gargle to soothe your throat. There are different types of gargles that can be used to treat throat and runny nose. You can buy them at any pharmacy, but they are easy to make just at home.
   • Try 1/4 -1/2 teaspoon salt mixed with 240 ml warm water.
   • Mix some honey and apple cider vinegar with 240 ml of warm water.
   • Stir 1 tablespoon of lemon juice in 2 cups of hot water. Mix with 1 teaspoon of honey and let cool to room temperature before rinsing.
4. 4 Blow your nose properly. Getting mucus back into your head instead of blowing your nose can aggravate a cold or damage your eardrums, leading to ear pain, among other things. There is also a proper way to blow your nose. Doing it differently can damage the eardrums.
   • The correct way to blow your nose is to press your finger against the nostril and gently blow your nose while clearing the other nostril. Remember to wash your hands afterwards.
5. 5 Study prescription drugs. This will only help relieve the symptoms of the disease. There is no cure for the common cold of any kind that will prevent or cure it.Plus, these drugs can have unpleasant side effects and worsening symptoms when you stop taking them. However, they can bring you some relief, especially at night for a good sleep.
   • Decongestants are used to relieve nasal congestion and are usually found as a spray or taken by mouth. They only relieve symptoms for a short period of time and are best used at night when you are trying to sleep (many of these drugs cause drowsiness anyway). DO NOT use them for more than 7 days in a row.
   • Pain relievers such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or aspirin can help reduce fever and relieve pain (pressure from your congested sinuses). But you really shouldn't take them unless you are 16 years old. Make sure these medicines can be taken along with other cold medicines.
6. 6 Use steam. Since colds thrive in dry conditions and dry air dries out the throat and nasal passages, causing a stuffy nose and a sore throat, getting moisture into your body and home will help relieve cold symptoms.
   • You can make a hot steam shower and sit in it with the bathroom door closed and breathe in the steam. Add some eucalyptus to open up the airways for a while.
   • Stand over a pot of boiling water and cover your head with a cloth or towel to keep the steam from escaping. Breathe deeply.
   • You can also use a humidifier, just clean it thoroughly to keep out mold, mildew and bacteria.
7. 7 Apply hot or cold compresses to congested sinuses. They help relieve pressure caused by mucus in your sinuses and may help you feel better. There are reusable hot and cold compresses available in pharmacies, but you can also heat a damp dishcloth for 55 seconds in the microwave as a hot compress and use a bag of frozen peas as a cold compress.
8. 8 Apply menthol ointment under your nose. Various steam ointments or menthol ointments, such as Olbas Oil, Vicks, or Mentholatum, will make your breathing more comfortable if you apply a little directly under your nostrils, and will also ease redness and chapped areas on your nostrils.
9. 9 Raise your head. This is especially important at night, as lifting your head helps clear the mucus that collects in your nasal passages so you can sleep more comfortably.
   • Place extra pillows on your bed so you can sleep upright.

Part 2 of 3: Make a Fast Recovery

1. 1 Eat chicken soup. Chicken soup can do many things that will help you recover faster. First, it acts as an anti-inflammatory, and second, it speeds up the movement of mucus, which relieves nasal congestion and can help get rid of viruses. In addition, it maintains water balance.
2. 2 Eat healthy foods. Eating a healthy diet plays an important role in helping you recover quickly and maintain this condition once you've gotten rid of your cold. This means that you should avoid sweets while you are sick: for example, soda, candy, ice cream, dairy products.
   • Sugar is bad for your immune system. It inhibits the cells of the immune system, which attack viruses, which in turn interfere with rapid improvement and well-being. Sugar can also irritate areas that are already inflamed (throat).
   • Try to eat more brightly colored fruits and vegetables like berries, citrus fruits, kiwis, apples, red grapes, kale, onions, spinach, sweet potatoes, carrots, and garlic.
3. 3 Exercises. Exercise can help strengthen your immune system to better fight infections and viruses. People who do not exercise are much more likely to get sick (or catch a cold) than people who play sports.Exercise releases positive chemicals into your body that promote good sleep, which in turn supports your immune system.
   • Even if you are feeling unwell due to a cold, try walking for at least 30 minutes or doing yoga. This will help you get better faster.
4. 4 Use a saline nasal spray. Sea water rinses and nasal sprays remove mucus that fills the nasal passages and removes viral particles and bacteria from the nose. You can get something like Neti from health food stores or just use a spray bottle.
   • Mix 1/4 teaspoon of salt with 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda in 240 ml of warm water. Lean over the sink and gently douche the salt water solution into your nostril. Close 1 nostril with your finger while douching the solution of the second nostril and let it drain. Repeat 2-3 times for both nostrils.
5. 5 Get some rest. Obviously, sleep is very important for defeating a cold, but try to do everything calmly, quietly, without straining yourself during illness. This way, your body will be less stressed and more able to cope with a cold. Even if you do not sleep much, you can simply lie down with a book or in front of the TV, and this will definitely help you feel better.

Part 3 of 3: Avoiding Misconceptions During Colds

1. 1 Don't take zinc. Zinc is one of those things whose effectiveness is still debated among specialists, but recent studies have shown that it does not play a large role in the treatment of the common cold. Zinc can also have side effects - lingering bad taste and nausea.
   • DO NOT use zinc nasal cold remedies as they are associated with loss of smell.
2. 2 Don't use antibiotics. Antibiotics attack bacteria, not cold viruses. They won't help you get better any faster, and overuse of antibiotics can lead to problems with antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
3. 3 Do not use medications with echinacea. While there is nothing wrong with using echinacea for most people, it also does not have any particular benefits for fighting the common cold. With its help, you are unlikely to quickly get rid of the disease.
   • If you have asthma, do not use this remedy. Echinacea is known to make asthma symptoms worse.

Tips

• Herbal teas are especially soothing (mint, jasmine, etc.). Not only do they taste great, they also give off a wonderful scent - and if you can smell that smell through a stuffy nose, then you are definitely on the mend! In the old days, herbal teas were often used as a cure for all diseases. There are many herbal teas that are designed to fight colds, such as Gyspy Cold Care. And if they don't cure you, they will at least have a calming effect (they really taste good!)
• Leave your towel and pajamas on the battery to keep from freezing (but be careful - batteries still pose a fire risk, although it is very small).
• A cuddle with a teddy bear or other stuffed animal can be very comforting for any age, a child or an adult. Just remember to wash it when you recover (and don't take it to the bath with you!)
• Buy a lavender scented pillow. It is very relaxing.

Warnings

• Stay at home while studying or working, because you can infect other people with your cold.
• If you are a parent and get sick, leave your children to a nanny to avoid getting them infected.
• Avoid flying if you are sick. This will result in high pressure and possibly damage your eardrums.
• Be careful not to fall asleep in the bath; there is a good idea for this: set a (loud) reminder for the time you are going to finish the procedure.