You may have a big social event this weekend, or an important meeting at work in a few days. Or, you want to cure a cold that you suffer from. Colds make you tired, weak, and irritable. Colds are a common type of disease. We've all experienced it, especially in cold season. Unfortunately, colds often just have to happen. Usually the body takes about 7-10 days for the cold to heal. However, there are many steps you can take to reduce cold symptoms so that you feel better within two days. There are also steps you can take to prevent colds.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Trying Effective Home Remedies
Step 1. Make sure you stay hydrated
Doctors recommend drinking plenty of fluids to help reduce cold symptoms. When the first symptom of a cold is a stuffy nose, start drinking lots of water. Drink more water than usual so your throat doesn't hurt.
- Green tea is especially helpful when you have a cold. Its rich antioxidant content helps protect the body from infection.
- The more liquid, the better. Dehydration will only make a cold worse.
Step 2. Stay rested
One of the worst effects of a cold is that the body tends to feel tired. Don't push yourself too hard. One of the best ways to recover is to get plenty of rest so the body can focus its energy on fighting off a cold. Go to bed earlier than usual.
Try to get seven or eight hours of sleep per night. If you're not feeling well, add an hour or two of sleep. Rest will help the body heal
Step 3. Eat the right foods
Chicken soup, like what our mothers used to make, can really help relieve cold symptoms and help the body feel better. Scientists are still researching the benefits of chicken soup, but some studies show that chicken soup reduces the spread of mucus thereby reducing symptoms of upper respiratory colds. Studies have shown that both homemade and store-bought soups have a similar effect.
- Other foods that have also been shown to help relieve cold symptoms include yogurt, which contains "good" bacteria to help the body fight infection.
- Garlic has content to increase the body's immunity. Add garlic to chicken soup for more benefits.
- Eat ginger. Ginger can help relieve an upset stomach, making it a great addition to chicken soup.
Step 4. Use herbs
Echinacea has long been used to help strengthen the immune system and treat disease. Recent studies have shown that echinacea can really help the body recover faster from colds. However, echinacea (and all other herbs) have side effects. Talk to your doctor before taking echinacea because it can react negatively to medications or supplements that you are also taking.
- Elderberry supplements can help treat cold symptoms. Elderberry can be obtained either in liquid or pill form. Elderberry can act as a decongestant.
- Slippery elm can reduce discomfort from a sore throat. Many herbalists and doctors do not recommend this herb to pregnant women.
Step 5. Get moving
If you feel up to it, do some moderate exercise. Taking a short walk outside before lunch is also very beneficial. Mild exercise can open up your nasal passages and temporarily relieve you of a cold.
- Don't do intense cardio if you're having trouble breathing because of a stuffy nose. Instead, do light or moderate exercise.
- Exercise is a natural mood booster so you'll feel better after a little exercise.
- Do not exercise if you have a fever, cough, or stomach pain, or if you are tired or sore.
Step 6. Use steam
Take a hot shower. Bathing not only relieves muscle tension, it can help reduce nasal congestion. While in the shower, gently blow one nostril at a time. You will feel that the steam helps to ease your breathing.
- You can still use the steam if you don't have time to shower. Catch hot water in the bathroom sink, then bend over it with a towel over your head. Breathe deeply to maximize the benefits of the steam.
- Add herbs to the steam treatment. Add a few drops of eucalyptus oil to the bath water. Some research shows that eucalyptus can help reduce coughs.
- Also use peppermint. Menthol, which reduces nasal congestion, is the main active ingredient in peppermint. Add peppermint oil to bath water for more benefits than steam.
Method 2 of 3: Using Medicine
Step 1. Talk to the pharmacist
Finding the best over-the-counter cold medicine is difficult. Therefore, ask your pharmacist for recommendations for safe and effective drugs.
Explain your symptoms clearly to the pharmacist. Tell them if you feel very sleepy, or if you have trouble sleeping. Also let them know if you have any allergies or sensitivities
Step 2. Treat the right symptoms
Don't take too many over-the-counter medications, which can cause drowsiness and potentially other health problems. You are safe to take one drug when fighting a cold. Choose a medication that targets your worst symptoms. Looking for this ingredient is one of the most effective ways of reducing nasal congestion.
If a cold keeps you coughing at night, look for over-the-counter medications that contain dextromethorphan
Step 3. Take painkillers
A cold is accompanied by aches and pains, and sometimes even a fever. Muscles and joints can become sore, adding to the discomfort in the body. Take over-the-counter painkillers to relieve these symptoms.
- Aspirin and ibuprofen are effective in helping you deal with colds. But follow the dosage guidelines on the bottle.
- Be careful when giving aspirin to children as this habit has been linked to Reye's syndrome. Do not give aspirin to children under two years of age. Children recovering from chickenpox or the flu should not be given aspirin. Consult a doctor before you give a child aspirin.
Step 4. Know when to go to the doctor
If you have a common cold, doctors can't do much to help and antibiotics have been shown to be effective against it. You don't need to go to the doctor if you know you have a cold.
If cold symptoms last a long time or become very severe, see a doctor. You need medical advice especially if you experience shortness of breath
Method 3 of 3: Prevent Colds
Step 1. Practice some healthy habits
There are steps you can take to prevent yourself from getting a cold. Make sure you follow some of the following basic guidelines for a healthy life. For example, make sure you continue to get enough sleep.
- Eat a healthy diet with fruits and vegetables to help build a strong immune system. These foods will help the body fight germs.
- Do meditation. Research shows that people who meditate daily report fewer colds per year. This may be because meditation reduces stress which can impair the immune system.
- Exercise often. People who exercised five days a week were less likely to suffer from respiratory illnesses such as colds.
Step 2. Wash your hands
Cold and flu germs are very easy to spread and can last a long time on almost any surface. These germs can be transferred to you if you touch everyday items, such as doors and phones. Wash your hands several times a day, especially during cold and flu season.
Using soap and warm water, rub hands for at least 20 seconds. Make sure you dry it with a clean towel
Step 3. Clean the environment
Reduce your exposure to germs by wiping all surfaces you touch throughout the day. Prioritize your workspace. Coworkers are one of the most common sources of germs. Keep germs at bay by wiping your computer, phone and pen with a cleaning cloth, at the beginning and end of the day.
Do the same process at home. Wipe down all commonly touched surfaces such as the faucet in the bathroom sink
Tips
- Consult a doctor if you are not sure whether a drug is suitable for you.
- Try a few different methods until you find the one that works best for you.
