Common cold treatments you can do at home
Veuer’s Keri Lumm explains how to fight the cold at home.
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No one likes a cold. Symptoms like sneezing, coughing, and stuffy nose are just not fun.
As soon as you start feeling those pesky symptoms approaching, you may start thinking, “When will this end?”
Well, I have good news and bad news. The bad news is that we’re entering the time of year when colds are, well, more common. That means you’re more likely to ask yourself this question. The good news is that there are answers. To find out how long a cold can last, we spoke to Dr. Richard Wender, chair of the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.
How long does a cold last?
Colds typically last seven to 10 days, Wender said. According to , a certain pattern of symptoms can be expected during this period. cleveland clinic. The first symptoms may appear within three days after being infected with the virus that causes the common cold. Common early symptoms include sore throat, sneezing, and stuffy nose. Symptoms usually worsen and begin to peak over the next few days. Symptoms such as fatigue and fever may occur. In the final stage, approximately days 8 to 10, the cold gradually gets better.
Cold symptoms may last for more than 10 days. “We see people all the time whose symptoms last for 14 years. [days] It can take three or four weeks,” Wender said. However, there is no need to worry just because the period has been extended. “As long as they don’t…start getting worse again or develop new fevers, we’re just trying to help people get through it.”
“It’s just your body trying to quell the inflammation, and that’s not a reason to panic,” Wender added.
How can I get rid of a cold quickly?
Unfortunately, there is no cure for the common cold. All you have to do is let your body fight the virus.
However, there are steps you can take to treat the symptoms. Wender emphasizes getting plenty of rest, drinking fluids to prevent dehydration, and taking Tylenol. Tylenol is an excellent general symptom reliever for adults and children.
When is a cold not just a cold?
In some cases, a cold, or what doctors call an upper respiratory infection, can cause more serious complications. Ear infections, sinus infections, and pneumonia are the most common secondary bacterial infections that develop from colds. Congestion makes you more likely to develop one of these infections because it “colonizes” bacteria, says Wender.
For each type of infection, there are warning signs you can look out for. “Especially with sinusitis, it’s the inability to keep getting better,” Wender explains. “In the case of the ear, especially in the elderly, but also in children, it’s usually a signal of some kind. In adults, the ear hurts. It feels congested. And pneumonia can also occur in the middle of a cold. there is. … [The warning sign for pneumonia is that] New symptoms will appear. It is common for children to have rapid breathing. In older people, the cough may become worse. Your baby may also have a new, deep cough. ”
Colds can be painful, but they usually don’t lead to serious problems. “The good news about the common cold is that the vast majority of people recover without any side effects and are doing well,” Wender said. “It’s just a week or so of discomfort and then life goes back to normal.”
Do you have COVID-19, RSV, the flu, or a cold? Understand what your symptoms mean this fall and winter