Sore throat? Runny nose? Coughing? Sneezing? You’ve likely caught a common cold – a viral infection in your upper respiratory system. A cold is the most well-known and common type of upper respiratory infection (URI), affecting your nose, sinuses, throat and large, upper airways. Although this can make you feel under the weather, most people are better within about 7-10 days.
“In the U.S., there are about one billion colds a year,” says Sara Stein, a Family Nurse Practitioner with Riverside Primary Care Norge. “Adults have an average of two or three colds and children have even more. It’s the biggest reason for adults to miss work or kids to miss school.”
Ms. Stein describes the symptoms and treatment, as well as how to prevent a cold and when to see your doctor.
Symptoms
“People usually catch a cold in the winter and spring, but you can have one at any time of the year,” says Ms. Stein. “Typically you’ll have a sore throat and a runny nose before you begin coughing and sneezing.”
Cold symptoms usually include:
- Sore throat
- Runny nose
- Coughing
- Sneezing
- Headache
- Body aches
- Flu symptoms usually include a fever or chills and exhaustion.
- Allergy symptoms appear and disappear based on your location.
Knowing the difference can help you receive the correct treatment faster so you can recover sooner.
Treatment (self-care, medical care)
Unfortunately, there is no cure for a cold, but there are things you can do to feel better until it’s gone, including:
- Get a lot of rest
- Drink plenty of fluids
- Gargle with warm salt water
- Use cough drops or throat sprays
- Take over-the-counter pain or cold medicines
“While over-the-counter medication may make you feel better, it won’t make your cold go away any faster,” Ms. Stein explains.
Some believe that herbs and natural supplements can prevent or cure a cold. Scientists are still researching these ideas, but this is what they’ve learned so far:
- Echinacea: This hasn’t been proven to help prevent or treat colds.
- Probiotics: They cannot treat a cold, and there’s very little evidence they can help prevent a cold.
- Vitamin C: It won’t prevent a cold, but it’s possible it can slightly reduce the length/improve symptoms.
- Zinc: It might minimize the length of your cold, but you could also experience side effects such as a permanent loss of smell. Plus, it may cause a reaction to some medications.
How to prevent a cold
Colds are caused by viruses that spread through the air and by close contact with an infected person. You can also catch a cold if an infected person coughed or wiped their nose then touched a surface (like a doorknob or pencil) without washing their hands. But, to catch it, you’d have to touch that same surface and then touch your eyes, mouth, or nose.
The best ways to minimize your chances of getting a cold are:
- Wash your hands often. Use soap and water, and wash for a full 20 seconds.
- Wash your hands before you touch your eyes, nose, or mouth.
- Stay away from people who are sick.
When to see your doctor
“If your symptoms last more than ten days or are severe, make an appointment with your doctor,” Ms. Stein recommends. “You should also see your doctor if you have a fever or chills. This is especially important for anyone who has a high risk of flu complications, such as children younger than five, adults over 65, pregnant women, and people with certain medical conditions like asthma, diabetes, or heart disease.”
If you’re concerned about your symptoms, you can make an appointment with Ms. Stein by visiting our website.
