5 Tips to Calm the Common Cold

Oh, the common cold–such misery we learn to live through! Wouldn’t it be great to never catch a cold?! While getting chilled or wet doesn’t cause colds, there are factors that make you more susceptible to catching a cold virus. For instance, you are more likely to get a cold if you are over-fatigued, stressed out, or have allergies with nose and throat symptoms.

I remember as a kid a cold wouldn’t even slow me down. Now, a cold inspires the deep desire to disappear in bed for several days. The truth is that although it takes a week for most people to feel better from a cold, cold symptoms can fade in as little as two days. By following these five tips, you can often decrease the longevity of your symptoms.

1. Know Your Cold
One reason your cold may be overstaying its welcome is that it may not be a cold! Many people believe that they’ve been suffering with a cold for a few weeks, and don’t realize that they aren’t getting better because they’ve been treating the wrong illness.

Sinus infection, which often develops after a cold, can be difficult to diagnose, particularly in the early stages of infection. With a sinus infection, you’re more likely to experience facial pain, a headache, fever, and green or yellow nasal discharge as opposed to clear.

Allergies are also commonly confused with a cold–but there are a few ways to tell the difference between the two. Cold symptoms typically work from the neck up, and they usually peak after a few days. While allergies can manifest as a low-grade, persistent set of symptoms. Both allergies and colds can cause a cough, runny nose and sneezing, but they split paths at muscle aches, fatigue, and decreased appetite–which are all more typical of a cold than allergies.

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Read more: Cold and Flu, Conditions, Health, allergies, cold, flu, medication

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Rob M.

5:56AM PST on Nov 29, 2011

To hell with the common cold! http://www.liquidfoxdesigns.com

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pat B.

1:24PM PDT on Mar 28, 2011

Thanks ! I am still trying to decide if I have a cold or allergy/ sinus attack .

Eva O.

5:35AM PST on Feb 18, 2011

Thank you, both for writing this article and thank you, all the people who took the time to write all this insightful comments! Very informational!

Karina P.

6:19AM PDT on Apr 11, 2010

Thank you!

Allies R.

5:03AM PST on Feb 22, 2010

The herb adrographis has been defined by clinical studies as being the most effective natural therapy for reducing severity and length of viral illnesses. Therapy can be optimized even further with the addition of the herb astragalus, which offers slightly different protection. The body requires higher levels of vitamin C and Zinc during illness and adequate supplmementation is essential. Individual supplements of each of these ingredients is recommended over combined supplements to achieve adequate therapeutic levels. Best wishes, Bill Rawls, M.D. Founder, First Do No Harm Health Systems.

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caroline g.

1:56AM PST on Jan 12, 2010

Vit C, sleep, soup and more sleep and rest.

6:28PM PST on Dec 6, 2009

thanks for posting!

Jennifer H.

2:57PM PST on Nov 15, 2009

Vitamin C (we take Emergen-C) is great and the recommended daily allowance is really not enough! That is the MINIMAL amount that a HEALTHY person needs! I take 1000 mg a day every day, and up it to 2000-3000 during cold and flu season, and then at any other time that people are ill around me, or as soon as I start feeling sick. It's best to take a powder form- non acidic and buffered. Your body absorbs it better. Echinacea is great, but only at the onset of symptoms or when others around you are sick and then only for 2 weeks. Otherwise it become ineffective and you will also get a metallic taste in your mouth every time you eat. Zinc is always good, too! And don't forget your pro-biotics! Taking a good probiotic DAILY is one of the best means of staving off illness! Avoid processed foods, especially excess sugar, corn syrup, etc. WATER! Drink LOTS! There, that's my remedy for staying well. It works- my family and I can attest to that!!! :)

Mary H.

7:48PM PST on Nov 12, 2009

The only times I get a cold are when I don't get enough sleep, water, sunshine or have eaten any sugar or dairy, which weakens my immune system. Every living thing has an electrical frequency, including bacteria and viruses, which can be measured on the megahertz scale. If you keep your immune system strong, you won't contract whatever is out there. I'm literally exposed to thousands of people every week in my line of work. Shaking hands, opening doors, etc. are all opportunities to get sick, but I never do, unless I don't follow the above protocol. I also use therapeutic-grade, organic essential oils which raise one's frequency. Check out www.youngliving.org (109877 - Mary Hendrick) for more info. Thieves is a wonderful oil blend which is 99.6% anti-microbial and anti-bacterial according to studies at Weber State University. My kids use this oil and I even put it on the bottom of my dog's paws before she goes to the vet so she is safe-guarded from catching anything at the vet's office.

Caralien S.

11:24AM PST on Nov 12, 2009

so many great comments! Flu soup (ginger, garlic, chiles, chicken stock), hot toddies (lemon, ginger, honey & booze tea--one before passing out)...don't forget a hot shower or good soak with epsom salt, minimally for the inevitable aches (and whether I believe in it or not, the "releasing" of toxins). I simply feel better when I'm less stinky (even if I can't smell it myself). Tongue scrapers are a must.

The only thing I would disagree with would be avoiding exercise. For the rare times I do get sick and phlegmy, nothing works better (for me) than a hearty bike ride and the inevitable coughing up of the gunk.

Also mushroom barley soup, for when you start feeling better or are sick of liquids. It's supposed to be fortifying and warming for sick or feeble folks, but actually just tastes good. Add extra garlic or black pepper if you like. This site has a good recipe (http://tinyurl.com/yjeftgm)