What is a Cold? Show Sore throat, stuffy nose, runny nose, sneezing, and coughing. These are the hallmark symptoms of the common cold. Millions of people in the United States get the common cold each year.1 Adults get an average of two to three colds each year, while kids get even more.1 Although the common cold tends to hit in the winter and spring, it’s possible to contract a cold any time of year. What Causes a Cold? Although many different viruses can cause a cold, rhinoviruses are the most cause of the common cold.1 A cold virus enters your body through your mouth, eyes or nose, usually when someone who is sick coughs, sneezes, or talks (the virus can spread through droplets in the air).1 You can also catch a cold by touching contaminated objects and surfaces and then touching your eyes, nose or mouth.1 Cold Symptoms and How Long They Last The symptoms of the common cold typically begin two to three days after being infected, and the symptoms can last anywhere from two to 10 days.1 Usually a sore throat is the first symptom to show up, followed by a runny nose. If you have the following symptoms, then you may have the common cold3:
What’s the difference between a cold and the flu? It can be hard to tell the difference between the common cold and flu. These two illnesses have similar symptoms and are both respiratory viral infections. However, they are caused by very different viruses.2 A diagnosed cold caused specifically by a cold virus cannot “morph” into the flu. What’s more, flu symptoms tend to be worse than cold symptoms, and they come on suddenly (cold symptoms tend to develop gradually). With the flu, you can expect to be faced with a fever, chills, and aching muscles and joints. Colds, on the other hand, are usually associated with a sore throat and runny nose. Colds are much more common than the flu. Common Cold Symptoms Treatment Your doctor may have told you that there’s no cure for the common cold. And your doctor is correct. To date, there are no antiviral medications that can fight the viruses that cause the common cold. Also, you cannot use antibiotics as common cold treatment as these are only used to treat infections caused by bacteria—and as we know, the common cold comes from a virus. Though you can’t cure your cold, that doesn’t mean you need to suffer with each and every symptom until your body fights off the virus. You can try home remedies to treat your symptoms. You can also go to your local pharmacy or grocery store and look for over-the-counter medications that relieve cold symptoms. Home Remedies for Your Cold Symptoms
Over-the-Counter Cold Symptom Treatment Non-prescription medicine can help ease your cold symptoms. Although Vicks products cannot cure the common cold, they can help you feel better. Many over-the-counter cold medicines treat multiple symptoms. Make sure to identify what other symptoms you may be experiencing with your cold, so you can get the relief you need.
DayQuil and NyQuil for Multi-Symptom Relief NyQuil and DayQuil SEVERE are both good options if you have a cold since they contain a pain reliever/fever reducer, a nasal decongestant, and cough suppressant. NyQuil SEVERE also contains an antihistamine to relieve sneezing and runny nose symptoms. DayQuil SEVERE contains an expectorant to help loosen phlegm (mucus) to make coughs more productive. FluTherapy for Multi-Symptom Relief If you prefer your cold symptom relief in a medicated hot drink, look to Vicks FluTherapy SEVERE. For relief of cold symptoms like nasal congestion, sore throat, cough, and more, dissolve a packet of FluTherapy into a glass of 8 oz. hot water. Stir and sip while hot. Make sure to drink the entire medicated drink within 10-15 minutes. Vicks VapoRub for Cough When your cold brings on cough symptoms, it’s hard to feel better. The medicated vapors in Vicks VapoRub quickly relieve cough symptoms. First, rub it on your chest or throat. Then breathe in the medicated vapors with the familiar scents of eucalyptus, menthol, and camphor to help relieve your cough symptom from a cold. Sinex SEVERE for Nasal Congestion Nasal congestion can make it hard to focus on anything besides your breathing when you have a cold. Over-the-counter nasal sprays like Sinex SEVERE Ultra Fine Mist can help to relieve nasal congestion from a cold. It is a fast-acting nasal spray decongestant that relieves sinus pressure and shrinks swollen nasal membranes so you can breathe more freely. How to Prevent Getting or Spreading a Cold Virus Cold and flu prevention methods are similar because both illnesses result when you are exposed to a virus.7 You can protect yourself from getting the common cold by following these CDC guidelines to help you reduce your risk of getting a cold1:
To protect others around you from getting the common cold, you should follow these CDC tips for cold prevention1:
What are the stages of a head cold?The stages of a cold include the incubation period, appearance of symptoms, remission, and recovery.
How long does it take to get over a head cold?In adults, the common cold typically clears up in about 7 to 10 days. Children may take slightly longer to recover — up to 14 days. There's no cure for the common cold. Instead, treatment focuses on symptom relief.
How long is a viral head cold contagious?You can spread the common cold from a few days before your symptoms appear until all of the symptoms are gone. Most people will be contagious for up to 2 weeks. Symptoms are usually worse during the first 2 to 3 days, and this is when you're most likely to spread the virus.
What helps a head cold go away faster?Cold remedies that work. Stay hydrated. Water, juice, clear broth or warm lemon water with honey helps loosen congestion and prevents dehydration. ... . Rest. Your body needs rest to heal.. Soothe a sore throat. ... . Combat stuffiness. ... . Relieve pain. ... . Sip warm liquids. ... . Try honey. ... . Add moisture to the air.. |
How long does a viral head cold last
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