Cold
Your nose is running, you've got a cough, and your throat is raw. Is it a cold, allergies, or the flu?
There are similarities to all three, but a few
telltale signs can help you tell them apart.
The Start of a Cold
It usually begins with a sore throat, and before you know it, you've
also got these symptoms:
- Runny
nose (clear
and watery)
- Sneezing
- Fatigue
- Cough
You usually don't get a fever with a cold. If you
do, it may be a sign you've got the flu or an infection with a
bacteria.
For the first few days that you're sick, your
runny nose will be watery, but it turns thicker and darker after that. You may
also get a mild cough that can last
into the second week of your cold.
Since a cold can trigger an asthma attack, people
with asthma should check with your doctor to see if you need to change
your regular treatment plan.
If you cough up thick or dark
mucus or you get a fever, you may have an infection with a bacteria. See your
doctor to find out how to treat it. Also see him if your cough doesn't get
better after a few weeks.
Your symptoms usually start between 1 and 3 days
after you get infected with a cold virus. They typically last for about 3 to 7
days. By then the worst is over, but you may feel stuffed up for a week or
more.
You're most contagious during the first 3 days
that you're sick, but it's still possible to spread it during the first week.
Is It Allergies Instead of a Cold?
Sometimes you might mistake cold symptoms for hay fever.
If they begin quickly and are over in 1 to 2 weeks, chances are it's not
an allergy.
Allergies are
caused by an overactive immune system, your defense against germs. Your body
overreacts to things like dust or pollen.
It then releases chemicals like histamine.
This causes the passageways in your nose to swell, leading to a runny nose, coughing,
and sneezing.
Hay fever isn't
contagious, but some people may inherit a tendency to get it.
Is It the Flu?
Take your temperature. A mild case of the flu often has symptoms
like a cold, but a cold rarely raises your temperature above 101 degrees F.
Besides a fever, the flu often gives you
muscle aches and a headache.
When to Call the Doctor About
Cold Symptoms
Except in newborns, colds aren't
dangerous. The symptoms usually go away without any special treatment. But when
you're sick it can wear down your body's resistance, making you more open to an
infection by a bacteria.
See your doctor if your cold
symptoms are severe and you aren't getting better. He'll likely check your
throat and ears, and listen to your lungs. He may
take a throat culture by
brushing your throat with a long cotton-tipped swab. This will show whether you
have an infection that needs treatment with antibiotics.
Call your doctor if you have:
- An earache
- Pain
around the nose and eyes (sinuses) for more than a week
- Fever
above 102 degrees F. If your child is younger than 3 months and has a
temperature of 100.4 degrees F or higher, call your doctor right away.
- Fever
that lasts more than a day in a child under 2, or more than 3 days in a
child age 2 or older
- Cough
up mucus for more than a week
- Shortness
of breath
- Worsening
symptoms
- Symptoms
that last longer than 2 weeks
- Trouble
swallowing.
- A
bad sore throat with fever (may
indicate strep infection)
- Pain or
pressure in the chest or belly
- A stiff neck or sensitivity to
bright lights
Also see your doctor if:
- You
are pregnant or breastfeeding and
get a cold
- Your newborn or infant gets symptoms
- Your
cold worsens after the third day
1.
How to Tell When You Have a Cold
1.
Is
It Really a Cold?Your nose is running, you've got a cough, and
your throat is raw. How can you tell whether you have a cold, allergies, or the
flu? A few telltale signs can help you tell them apart.
2.
Cold
vs. Flu: While cold symptoms can make you feel bad for a few days, flu symptoms
can make you feel quite ill for a few days to weeks.
3.
Cold
vs. Allergies: How can you tell the difference between a common cold and allergies?
It's sometimes a tough call, but how long your problems last is one of the big
clues.
2.
When It's More Than a Cold
1.
Signs
It Could Be Something More SeriousThe common cold is usually no
cause for concern, but it can sometimes lead to more serious issues.
2.
When
to Call a Doctor: When is it time to get some advice from a
pro? Take stock of your cold symptoms and see if they fit into one of these
patterns.
3.
Sinus
Infections: A sinus infection, or sinusitis, can occur in the wake of a cold or with
allergies.
4.
Ear
Infections Symptoms of a middle ear infection (acute otitis media) often start 2 to
7 days after the start of a cold or other upper respiratory infection.
1.
Children
and Colds: Learn more about colds in children: prevention, symptoms, treatments,
and when to call the doctor.
2.
Colds
and Chronic Medical Conditions: A common cold can aggravate
some chronic medical conditions. Learns how to prevent more serious health
problems if you have a cold.
3.
Asthma
and Colds: If you have asthma, catching a cold may worsen or trigger your symptoms.
4.
Heart
Disease and Colds: If you have heart disease, take extra care to
avoid catching a cold. It can sometimes lead to complications that can cause
serious problems.
5.
Diabetes
and Colds: Colds aren't fun for anyone, but if you have diabetes, all that
sniffling and sneezing comes with an extra risk.
6.
AIDS,
HIV, and Colds: If your immune system is weakened from HIV/AIDS, you need to guard against
colds and flus - which can lead to more serious illnesses.
Treat your cold at home
Being
sick, even when you’re home in bed, isn’t fun. The combination of body aches, fever, chills, and nasal congestion can be enough to make
anyone miserable.
There are
plenty of home remedies that can alleviate your symptoms and get you back to
normal. If you still feel sick after a few weeks, make an appointment with your
doctor. If you have trouble breathing, have a rapid heartbeat, feel faint, or experience other severe symptoms, get medical
help sooner.
Chicken soup
Chicken
soup may not be a cure-all, but it’s a great choice when you’re sick. Research suggests that enjoying a bowl of chicken soup with vegetables, prepared
from scratch or warmed from a can, can slow the movement of neutrophils in your
body. Neutrophils are a common type of white blood cell. They help protect your
body from infection. When they’re moving slowly, they stay more concentrated in
the areas of your body that require the most healing.
The study
found that chicken soup was effective for reducing the symptoms of upper respiratory infections in particular. Low-sodium soup also carries great
nutritional value and helps keep you hydrated. It’s a good choice, no matter
how you’re feeling.
Ginger
The
health benefits of ginger root have been touted for
centuries, but now we have scientific proof of its curative properties. A few
slices of raw ginger root in boiling water may help soothe a cough or sore throat. Research suggests that it can also ward off the
feelings of nausea that so often accompany influenza. For
example, one study found that just 1 gram of
ginger can “alleviate clinical nausea of diverse causes.”
Honey
Honey has a variety of
antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. Drinking honey in tea with lemon
can ease sore throat pain. Research suggests that honey is an effective cough suppressant,
too. In one study, researchers found that giving children 10 grams of honey at
bedtime reduced the severity of their cough symptoms. The children reportedly
slept more soundly, which also helps reduce cold symptoms.
You
should never give honey to a child younger than 1 year old, as it often
contains botulinum spores. While they’re usually harmless to older children and
adults, infants’ immune systems aren’t able to fight them
off.
Garlic
Garlic contains the compound
allicin, which may have antimicrobial properties. Adding a garlic supplement to your diet might reduce
the severity of cold symptoms. According to some research, it might even help you avoid getting sick in the first place.
More
research needs to be done on the potential cold-fighting benefits of garlic. In
the meantime, adding more garlic to your diet probably won’t hurt.
Echinacea
Native
Americans have used the herb and root of the echinacea plant
to treat infections for more than 400 years. Its active ingredients include
flavonoids, chemicals that have many therapeutic effects on the body. For
example, flavonoids can boost your immune system and reduce inflammation.
Research
on the herb’s effectiveness at fighting the common cold and flu has been mixed.
But one review suggests that taking echinacea may
lower your risk of developing the common cold by more than 50 percent. It may
also reduce the length of a cold. If you’re a healthy adult, consider taking 1
to 2 grams of echinacea root or herb as a tea, three
times daily, for no longer than one week.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C plays
an important role in your body and has many health benefits. Along with limes,
oranges, grapefruits, leafy greens, and other fruits and vegetables, lemons are
a good source of vitamin C. Adding fresh lemon juice to hot tea with honey may
reduce phlegm when you’re sick. Drinking hot or cold lemonade may also help.
While these drinks may not clear up your cold
entirely, they can help you get the vitamin C that your immune system needs.
Getting enough vitamin C can relieve upper
respiratory tract infections and other illnesses.
Probiotics
Probiotics are
“friendly” bacteria and yeast that are found in your body, some foods, and
supplements. They can help keep your gut and
immune system healthy, and research indicates that
probiotics may reduce your chance of getting sick with an upper respiratory
infection.
For a delicious and nutritious source of helpful
bacteria, include probiotic yogurt in
your diet. Besides its potential benefits for your immune system, yogurt is a
healthy snack that provides plenty of protein and calcium. Look
for products that list live bacteria on the label.
Other options
Salt
water
Gargling with salt water may help prevent upper
respiratory infections. It may also decrease the severity of cold symptoms. For
example, it may ease sore throat pain and nasal congestion.
Gargling with salt water reduces and loosens mucus,
which contains bacteria and allergens. To try this remedy at home, dissolve 1
teaspoon of salt in a full glass of water. Swish it around your mouth and
throat. Then spit it out.
Vapor
rub
You might not like the smell, but some old-fashioned topical ointments,
such as vapor rub, appear to reduce cold symptoms in children older than 2 years. Just
one or two applications before bed can help open air passages to combat
congestion, reduce coughing, and improve sleep. Vapor rub is gaining traction
among some doctors who encourage parents to avoid giving over-the-counter cold
medicines to young children because of unwanted side effects.
Humidity
Influenza thrives and spreads more easily in dry
environments. Creating more humidity in your home may reduce your exposure to
this flu-causing virus. Increased humidity may also reduce nasal inflammation,
making it easier to breathe when you’re sick. Temporarily adding a cool mist humidifier to
your bedroom may help you feel more comfortable. This is especially true in
winter, when dry indoor heat can exacerbate your symptoms. Adding a few drops
of eucalyptus oil might also stimulate your breathing.
Remember, the water used in humidifiers needs to be
changed daily to stop mold and other fungi from growing. For the same effect
without a humidifier, take a long shower or linger in a steamy bathroom.
Warm
baths
Sometimes you can reduce a child’s fever by giving
them a warm sponge bath. Warm baths can also reduce cold and flu symptoms in
adults. Adding Epsom salt and
baking soda to the water can reduce body aches. Adding a few drops of essential oil,
such as tea tree, juniper, rosemary, thyme, orange, lavender, or eucalyptus,
may also have a soothing effect.
