Colds are caused by more than 200 different viruses, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. There is no cure for colds, so treatment focuses on relieving the symptoms, including cough, sore throat, watery eyes, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, sneezing, fever and runny or stuffy nose. Rest, general comfort measures and over-the-counter medications are usually sufficient to make the person reasonably comfortable. Symptoms are fairly mild, so patients should suspect flu if their symptoms are severe and appear suddenly.
Step 1
Rest as much as possible to speed healing and avoid infecting others. Stay home from work or school if possible.
Step 2
Drink plenty of water and other beverages to replace fluids lost due to fever or mucous discharge. Choose fluids that do not contain caffeine or alcohol. Chicken soup is another good choice as it helps to relieve inflammation and congestion, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Step 3
Turn on a humidifier or vaporizer to relieve congestion and coughing.
Step 4
Gargle with a solution of warm water and salt several times a day to relieve a cough and sore throat. Warm lemon water and honey is also helpful, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Step 5
Administer saline--saltwater--nose drops to relieve congestion. Over-the-counter decongestant nasal sprays can also be helpful but should not be used for more than a few days, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians.
Step 6
Take over-the-counter acetaminophen, aspirin, ibuprofen or naproxen for muscle aches and pain, according to AAFP. Do not give aspirin to children or teenagers because it can cause Reye's syndrome.
Step 7
Take an over-the-counter expectorant to help you cough up mucous, advises the AAFP. If you have a cough but are not producing mucous, try an anti-tussive or cough suppressant. Do not give cough medicine to children under the age of 4 years old.
Step 8
Avoid smoking or exposure to second-hand smoke which can aggravate your symptoms.
Tips and Warnings
- Echinacea or vitamin C may slightly reduce the duration of a cold, according to the Mayo Clinic. When choosing over-the-counter medications, be careful not to double up on ingredients or treat symptoms that you do not have. If you select a multi-purpose cold medication for cough, fever and headache, for example, you should not also take aspirin, acetaminophen or a cough syrup.
- Zinc nasal sprays may cause a permanent loss of the sense of smell and should not be used, according to the Mayo Clinic. There is no conclusive scientific evidence that zinc, echinacea, vitamin C or any other complementary medicine practice prevents or reduces the duration of a cold, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
Things You'll Need
- Over-the-counter medications
- Fluids
- Salt
- Vaporizer or humidifier
