Don’t feel bad about not going to school or work during a cold. It’s the best decision for your health, and it’s also a good idea to stay home so you don’t spread the cold to other people!
It’s also important to drink plenty of fluids when you’re sick to keep you hydrated. [3] X Expert Source David Nazarian, MDDiplomate, American Board of Internal Medicine Expert Interview. 26 March 2020. Dehydration can make your symptoms feel even worse. Limit caffeine intake when you have a cold because it dehydrates you. Don’t drink alcohol. It can aggravate your symptoms and congestion and have bad reactions to your over-the-counter medications.
Stick to black or green tea. Both contain phytochemicals that may help fight colds, and green tea may help rehydrate your body!
Add a few drops of essential oil to your bath or shower. Eucalyptus, peppermint, tea tree, lavender, and rosemary oils can make steam more effective at combating congestion. Don’t use peppermint oil with children under 6 years old. Also, consult your doctor before using essential oils if you’re pregnant or have a serious medical condition.
To make your own saline rinse, boil 1 cup (240 mL) water and let it cool until it’s warm. Mix in 0. 5 tsp (2. 5 g) of salt and 0. 5 tsp (2. 5 g) of baking soda and stir until they both dissolve. For infants, put a few drops of saline solution into one nostril. Wait a moment for the solution to loosen mucus in the baby’s nose, then insert a bulb syringe . 25 inches (0. 64 cm) into their nostril and suction the mucus out. You can also use a neti pot, which can flush out mucus and help clear congestion from your nose.
You can also try a thicker gargle made with 50 ml of honey, steeped sage leaves, and cayenne pepper in 3. 3 ounces (100 mL) of water, boiled for 10 minutes. Children under 8 years old shouldn’t gargle with salt water, as they’re typically not old enough to do so. Young kids who can’t gargle yet might swallow the salt water.
Foods rich in vitamin C that can help you while you’re sick include broccoli, potatoes, tomatoes, strawberries, and cantaloupe. Zinc supplements can also help you recover quicker if you take them right when you first start feeling symptoms. However, the evidence that zinc fights colds is inconclusive (like vitamin C).
Take 1 or 2 cough drops every 2 hours as needed. Alternatively, use throat spray on the sore spot in your throat 5 times every 2 hours. You could also suck on ice or popsicles to give your sore throat some chilly relief. Be aware that some sprays can have a strong taste. Also, pick up lozenges that don’t have menthol if you don’t like the numbing sensation from sprays and certain cough drops.
Antihistamines can also soothe your runny nose, clogged sinuses, and sneezing. While commonly used for allergy relief, they’re also recommended for congestion due to a cold. Use decongestants sparingly for no more than three days. Otherwise, your symptoms might get worse. It’s important to remember that medicine can’t cure a cold! Your cold will run its course no matter what, but medicine is still worth considering because it makes the symptoms less uncomfortable.
Never take NSAIDs long-term or in larger doses than recommended, as they can cause stomach issues or liver damage. Contact your doctor if you need to take an NSAID more than 4 times a day or for over 3 days. NSAIDs (except for acetaminophen) are not approved for infants under 6 months. Always check the dosages of the pain relievers for older babies and children, as some formulas are very concentrated. Don’t give aspirin to children under 12, as it puts them at risk of developing Reye’s syndrome.
Children under 6 should not use cough suppressants. Cough medicine is a temporary fix. Call your doctor if your cough doesn’t go away, and you have to take it for more than 7 days. Remember only to take the medicine that you need. For example, if your sore throat goes away, but you develop a cough, you don’t need to keep taking NSAIDs—just take a cough suppressant.
Sleep in layers if your temperature fluctuates so that you can remove or add blankets depending on how you feel. Add an extra pillow to elevate your head, which might help with coughing and post-nasal drip, allowing you to sleep better. Keep a box of tissues and a trash bin or bag near your bed. This way, you can blow your nose and throw out tissues whenever necessary.
