Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 3: Treating Symptoms at Home
• Method 2 of 3: Using medicines and herbal remedies
• Method 3 of 3: Strengthening Immunity

While the common cold is rarely a serious health threat, it can be very unpleasant. There is ample evidence that cold symptoms can be alleviated by a variety of foods and supplements, from chicken soup to zinc syrup. Who wouldn't want to get rid of a cold in one day? Unfortunately, the fight against colds takes more than one day, and according to medical science, recovery can be accelerated only slightly (if at all). However, there are simple ways to help both relieve the symptoms of the common cold and avoid it in the future.

Attention:the information in this article is for informational purposes only. Before using any methods, consult your doctor.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Treating Symptoms at Home

1. 1 Maintain water balance. With a common cold, as with many other illnesses, it is imperative to provide the body with enough fluids so that it can successfully fight the disease. Dehydration threatens with further complications and reduces the body's ability to withstand colds.
   • Generally speaking, it is best to drink plain water to keep your body hydrated in the event of a cold (as well as at any other time). Drinking 8 glasses (2 liters) of water a day is generally recommended, although more is acceptable.
   • For colds, you can also drink electrolyte drinks (such as sports drinks). This is especially useful if you are losing a lot of fluids due to illness.
2. 2 Try salt and steam to relieve symptoms. We are all familiar with the unpleasant sensations of a cold, when it hurts in the throat and a stuffy nose. Fortunately, there are simple home remedies that can help relieve the symptoms of the common cold.
   • Try gargling with cool or warm salt water and then spitting it out. This will soothe sore throat caused by inflammation, and the antibacterial properties of the saline will help fight off germs.
   • Some people prefer to use neti-pot and other similar devices to flush the nasal passages with salt water, but saline nasal sprays can just as well treat nasal congestion.
   • Try taking a hot shower, breathing steam, or using another source of warm, humid air. Moist air helps to clear the airways and relieve irritation. Even a room humidifier has some benefits.
3. 3 Try grandma's remedies. While not all of them have stood the test of time and received scientific evidence, some seem to help relieve the symptoms of the common cold.
   • Make chicken soup. The effectiveness of this old home remedy is backed by scientific evidence. It seems that the combination of broth, vegetables and chicken partially suppresses the part of the immune system response that leads to cold symptoms. In addition, the hot broth reduces the amount of mucus and provides the body with fluid.
   • Replace coffee with green tea, as well as infusions of echinacea and other herbs. During illness, you should drink more water, and these liquids, unlike coffee, do not have a diuretic effect. They thin the mucus and help remove it from the body faster.
   • Eat spicy food for lunch or dinner. For example, you can add chili or curry to a hot sauce. Chili peppers and other hot spices are high in capsaicin. This antioxidant helps clear mucus from your sinuses (however, it can worsen throat irritation).

Method 2 of 3: Using medicines and herbal remedies

1. 1 Ease the pain. Many people take complex medications for various cold symptoms, although pain (such as a sore throat) may be the main or even the only complaint. If pain is the main symptom, it is best to use a pain reliever.
   • Pain relievers, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, are quite effective in relieving pain caused by the common cold, including a sore throat. Be sure to follow the recommended dosage. Be especially careful if you are taking other pain relievers for the common cold, as it can easily exceed the recommended daily dose.
   • Aspirin also works well, but it thins the blood, so check with your doctor, especially if you are taking anticoagulants or have bleeding problems. Under no circumstances should aspirin be given to children and adolescents under the age of 19, as it can lead to the development of Reye's syndrome.
2. 2 Treat coughs and nasal congestion. Use an over-the-counter cough medicine or nasal decongestant (or a combination of both), especially if a cough or nasal congestion keeps you awake at night. Take them according to the directions for use until you feel better about your symptoms.
   • Some people find that honey (by itself or in tea) is as effective as any over-the-counter cough medicine. Honey won't hurt anyway, so it's worth a try.
   • Do not take cough medicines or decongestants for more than three days, or symptoms may recur more severely.
   • Children younger than 5 years old should not be given any over-the-counter cough medicine without a doctor's approval.
   • Remember that antibiotics treat bacterial infections and are useless for viral infections, including SARS.
3. 3 Consider taking vitamin C. Research on the effectiveness of vitamin C in treating the common cold shows mixed and often conflicting results. Some are convinced of its effectiveness, while others believe that it is useless for colds. However, taking vitamin C for colds is unlikely to do any harm.
   • There is little evidence that vitamin C can help reduce the duration of a common cold to one day when taken regularly over an extended period of time (not just during illness). Some claim that high doses of vitamin C can help stop colds, but there is no evidence to support this. However, high doses of vitamin C are unlikely to harm you in any way.
   • If you want to significantly increase your vitamin C intake, drink natural fruit juices or take at least 200 milligrams a day in a supplement.
4. 4 Consider taking zinc. As with vitamin C, there is a lot of conflicting information about the effectiveness of zinc supplements in fighting colds. However, unlike vitamin C, too much zinc is hazardous to health. However, taking zinc within the acceptable range is usually safe and may help manage colds.
   • Taking more than 50 milligrams of zinc per day for extended periods of time can be harmful to your health. There have been reports that zinc nasal sprays can cause irreparable damage to the sense of smell.
   • With this in mind, taking zinc syrup or zinc acetate lozenges every three to four hours during the first 24 hours of a cold (but not more than 50 milligrams per day) can shorten the duration of illness to one day. However, some doctors consider such claims to be too bold and unfounded.
5. 5 Try other herbal and natural remedies. While the benefits of natural remedies such as echinacea, ginseng, and selenium are unclear, they should be taken in moderation. Especially the recommended dosage should be observed in the case of selenium, as it is harmful to health in large doses.
   • According to some studies, taking 300 milligrams of echinacea three times a day can help prevent colds. However, if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, allergic to ragweed, or have an autoimmune disease, you should consult your doctor first.
   • Taking up to 400 milligrams of ginseng a day or a daily garlic supplement also helps to boost immunity and prevent colds. However, both of these drugs can interact with a wide variety of medications, so check with your doctor or pharmacist first.
   • Foods containing probiotics can strengthen the immune system, although this is also not supported by scientific research. Yogurt and cheese may not be the best choices if you have a cold. Try sauerkraut, miso soup, sourdough bread, kombucha and tempeh. The good bacteria in your gut may help you heal the infection faster.

Method 3 of 3: Strengthening Immunity

1. 1 Make sure your diet is well balanced. While many are inclined to believe that there are some "superfoods" that can help cure colds, there is no reliable scientific evidence for this. At the same time, a balanced, healthy diet helps to strengthen the immune system, and as a result, you can face a cold fully armed.
   • Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables. In particular, include in your diet onions, blueberries, bell peppers, carrots, garlic, citrus fruits, mushrooms, fennel, leafy greens, and sweet potatoes. These foods are rich in vitamins C and A, antioxidants, beta-carotene and B vitamins - all of which support the immune system.
   • Eat lean protein foods such as fish, poultry, lean pork, and eggs. These foods contain vitamin E, zinc, selenium and iron. They help to strengthen the immune system.
   • This list (in English) lists the so-called "superfoods" that may help cope with the common cold. Be that as it may, many of these foods are indeed beneficial for your health and the immune system, if you do it in moderation.
2. 2 Exercise regularly. As with eating well, exercising regularly can improve your health and immunity. As a result, the immune system is better able to withstand the common cold virus, which often helps prevent illness.
   • If you do get a cold, walking for half an hour 1-2 times a day will improve circulation and help reduce stress. Although the reason for this is unclear, light to moderate exercise plays an important role in keeping the immune system working properly.
   • For colds, light to moderate exercise is recommended, as excessive exercise can deprive the body of the energy it needs to fight infection.
3. 3 Relax and unwind. High stress levels and sleep deprivation negatively affect the body, whether you have a cold or are feeling great. Resting and recuperating properly will reduce the risk of catching a cold, and if you do get sick, it will speed up your recovery.
   • Sleep for at least eight hours every night. During healthy uninterrupted sleep, your body is energized, which strengthens the immune system. This is especially important for colds, when the body needs additional energy to fight the virus.
   • Take over-the-counter medications and recommended home remedies for the common cold to relieve sleep-disturbing symptoms and sleep better at night.
   • Reduce your stress levels. If you are stressed at work and have a weakened immune system, take a day off or sick leave to focus on your treatment and improve your condition. This way you can speed up your recovery by one or more days.
4. 4 Take preventive measures. The only sure way to avoid having a long-term cold is to avoid catching it at all. Of course, even strong immunity and the most careful hygiene does not guarantee that you will not get sick, but there are simple ways that can help reduce the risk of a cold.
   • The best way to avoid the common cold is to wash your hands regularly after contact with other people and contaminated surfaces. Also, try to keep less exposure to people with colds to reduce the risk of infection.
   • See your doctor regularly for routine check-ups. The doctor will be able to assess your overall health and, if necessary, make recommendations to help you cope with your current health problems, strengthen your immune system, and thereby reduce the risk of colds and other diseases.