You can't breathe, your head and throat hurt, you're sneezing and coughing. What you probably have is a common "head cold," which is often a result of mucous draining down into your esophagus. According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, no cure for the common cold exists, but it will often go away on its own within 10 to 14 days. The good news is there are steps you can take to ease your symptoms until your cold is gone.
Step 1
Drink up. According to the American Lung Association, having plenty of fluids in your system keeps the mucous moist so it is easier to clear it out of the body. Avoid any liquids with caffeine or alcohol, as both have a dehydrating affect on the body and will worsen the symptoms.
Step 2
Use a humidifier when you sleep. Placing a cool mist humidifier in your bedroom will help keep the lining of the throat and nose moist, which will make breathing easier and ease congestion.
Step 3
Prop your head up while you're sleeping. This will also help you sleep better and keep your nasal passages clear while they're draining. Adding more pillows underneath your upper body, or putting two blocks under the legs of the top of your bed, will help the mucous flow and not congest.
Step 4
Have some chicken soup. While it may sound like an old-fashioned myth, according to the Mayo Clinic, chicken soup really does help relieve cold symptoms (see Resources). Chicken soup acts as an anti-inflammatory and also speeds up mucous drainage.
Step 5
Ease your sore throat by sucking on vitamin C candies or gargling with salt water. Cough drops or candy filled with vitamin C are available in any pharmacy or department store, and can add relief to a throat that gets dry and irritated from a cold. Adding 1 tbsp. of sea salt to 1 cup of warm water, and gargling with it, will also ease sore throat symptoms.
Step 6
Take an over-the-counter pain reliever to help with headache symptoms. Some pain relievers, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, are also combined with decongestants to provide added relief during a cold.
Tips and Warnings
- Always cover your mouth and nose when you cough and sneeze, as this will help prevent the spread of the cold virus.
- If your cold is accompanied by a fever that lasts more than two days, see your doctor, as this could be a sign of a condition other than the common old. The FDA advises against giving over-the-counter medicine to children under two (see Resources).
Things You'll Need
- Humidifier
- Extra pillows
- Chicken soup
- Vitamin C cough drops
- Over-the-counter pain reliever
