How to Deal With a Cold

The cure for the common cold would be great, but it has not been discovered yet. That said, there are many things that you can do to help deal with a cold better. Most cold symptoms develop over several days. They can cause fever, a sore throat, runny nose, headaches, coughing and general aches and pains. There are many over the counter cold medications you can take to help ease the symptoms of a cold.

In addition, here are some other things that will help with your cold symptoms.

• Sleep / Rest - This helps your body fight infection. The less youre doing, the better chance your body has of fighting the virus.


• Stop Smoking - Cigarette smoke can make the symptoms of a cold worse, so try to avoid smoking when youre dealing with a cold.


• Fluids - Drink a lot of water and fresh juices that contain Vitamin C.


• Garlic - While your breath may suffer, a clove of garlic can help boost your immune system which can help fight a cold.


• Salt Water Gurgle - Gurgling with salt water can help relieve your sore throat.


• Avoid Caffeine - While caffeine is a mainstay for many people, it can lead to dehydration. This is true for alcohol as well. So, you should avoid both when youre dealing with a cold.


• Nose drops - Saline (salt water) drops can help loosen mucus and moisten the tender skin of your nose.


• Avoid Sniffling - Blow your nose because sniffling can lead to an ear infection.


• Honey and Tea - Hot tea with honey can help soothe a sore throat as well.


• Steam - Taking a steamy shower can help moisturize your nasal passages and relive congestion

There are many other things you can do to help fight a cold, but these basic tips should get you going in the right direction. Remember, when you first start to feel the symptoms coming on, its important to follow these tips and take some OTC (over the counter) cold medicine. If conditions do not improve over a few days or if a fever persists, you should consult with a medical professional.

Fighting a cold does not have to be difficult. If you are aware of your body and work with it to fight a cold, you can avoid prolonging the nasty symptoms that come with the common cold. While a total and complete cure would be nice, until science comes up with a solution, these tips can help you deal with the common cold and the symptoms that come with it.

K. Paul Mallasch is the publisher of Health Courage, where you can find out How to Deal with a Cold and learn the Top Tips for Not Getting Sick.