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Cold

What is the common cold?

The common cold is a mild infection of your upper respiratory tract (which includes your nose and throat). Colds are probably the most common illness. Adults have an average of 2-3 colds per year, and children have even more. Colds are more common in the winter and spring, but you can get them at any time.

What causes the common cold?

More than 200 different viruses can cause a cold, but rhinoviruses are the most common type. The viruses that cause colds are very contagious. They can spread from person to person through the air and close personal contact. You can also get infected when you touch something that has the virus on it and then touch your eyes, mouth, or nose. For example, you could get a cold after you shake hands with someone who has a cold or touch a doorknob that has the germs on it, and then touch your face.

What are the symptoms of the common cold?

The symptoms of a common cold usually include:

  • Sneezing
  • Stuffy nose (congestion)
  • Runny nose
  • Sore throat
  • Coughing
  • Headache

The symptoms usually start a few days after you become infected with the virus. Some symptoms can last for 10-14 days.

What are the treatments for the common cold?

There is no cure for the common cold. But there are treatments that can make you feel better while you wait for the cold to go away on its own:

  • Getting lots of rest.
  • Drinking plenty of fluids.
  • Using a clean humidifier or cool mist vaporizer.
  • Gargling with warm salt water.
  • Using saline nose drops or sprays.
  • Taking over-the-counter pain or cold and cough medicines. But you need to be careful with certain medicines:
    • Children and teens should not take aspirin.
    • Some cold and cough medicines contain ingredients that are not recommended for children. Talk with your child's health care provider before giving your child any cold and cough medicines.
    • Some cold and cough medicines contain pain relievers. If you also take a separate pain reliever with these medicines, you could be getting a dangerous amount of the pain reliever. Read the labels on the medicines and follow the instructions carefully. If you have questions, ask your provider or a pharmacist.

Antibiotics will not help with a cold. Antibiotics help with bacterial infections, not with viral infections such as colds.

Most people who have a cold will feel better after a week or two. However, some people who get a cold may develop other illnesses, such as bronchitis or pneumonia. This is more common in people with weakened immune systems, asthma, or other respiratory conditions. Contact your provider if you or your child have symptoms that concern you, such as:

  • Trouble breathing or fast breathing
  • Dehydration
  • Fever that lasts longer than 4 days
  • Symptoms that last more than 10 days without improvement
  • Symptoms, such as fever or cough, that improve but then return or worsen
  • Worsening of chronic medical conditions
Can the common cold be prevented?

There is no vaccine to protect against the common cold. But you may be able to reduce your risk of getting or spreading a cold by:

  • Washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
  • Avoiding touching your face, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Avoiding close contact, such as kissing, shaking hands, and sharing cups and eating utensils, with others if you are sick or they are sick.
  • Cleaning and disinfecting surfaces that you frequently touch.
  • Covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue. Then throw away the tissue and wash your hands.
  • Staying home when sick.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


WARNING: All medicines, drugs, plants, chemicals or medicial precedures below are for reference only. Many of these treatments may be harmful and possibly fatal. Do not consume any plant, chemical, drug or otherwise without first consulting a licensed physician that practices medine in the appropriate field. The owner of this website will not be held liable for any injuries and deaths cause by following any home remedies. We have no control of what is posted.

Home Remedies for Cold

COLD
   Squeeze half a lemon into a cup. Add hot water into cup. Add a teaspoon of raw organic honey. Drink 2 to 3 cups per day to reduce the severity of a cold.Jose3124 | November 4th, 2017
efficacy
4.3  (4)
side effects
2.3  (4)
danger
1.0  (2)

This sounds sour, but really helps a cold.
Jlaiii
Aug 25th
UNK

STIFF NECK
   Stand in a hot shower for 20 seconds, then switch to cold for 10 seconds. Repeat the cycle 3 times. End the shower on a cold cycle.Nancy | November 4th, 2017
efficacy
3.3  (9)
side effects
1.3  (4)
danger
1.5  (2)

UNK

COLDS COUGH FEVER [acute viral rhinopharyngitis - acute cor]
   Garlic has been used for colds, bronchial problems, coughs and fevers throughout history. It is a blood thinner and lowers cholesterol.

In a blender, chop 3 garlic cloves and 1/2 a lemon (including the skin).
Steep contents in a cup with boiling water for 5 minutes.
Strain solids, leaving the liquid.
Add a little honey to the liquid.
Drink slowly.

For colds: Prepare and drink garlic tea 3 times a day.
During epidemics/pandemics: Drink 1 time per day.

This may just be what we need to help prevent COVID-19 infections!

Sulfur Compounds: aliin, allicin, ajoene, allylpropl, diallyl, trisulfide, sallylcysteine, vinyldithiines, S-allylmercaptocystein, and others.

Amino acids: arginine and others.

Enzymes: allinase, peroxidases, myrosinase, and others.

Allicin (diallyl thiousulfinate or diallyl disulfide) does not exist in garlic until it is crushed or cut. Crushing the garlic bulb activates the enzyme allinase which metabolizes alliin to allicin.NathanielHawthorne | August 13th, 2020
efficacy
5.0  (1)
side effects
1.0  (1)
danger
1.0  (1)

UNK


References