8 Strategies for Coping with the Common Cold

There is no cure for the common cold. Once you come down with one – something that happens two or three times a year for the average adult – you’re stuck with it until it goes away on its own.

The problem is that the common cold is caused by more than 200 respiratory viruses you can encounter in your daily life. They spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. You can also pick up a virus by touching a surface recently touched by someone who is sick.

Unfortunately, viruses – unlike bacteria – are incredibly hard to kill. Among these tiny germs’ defenses is the ability to rapidly mutate, making them difficult to target. Antibiotics also have no effect on viruses that cause the common cold.

A cold generally starts to display its symptoms within three days of entering your body. Typically, your cold will last a week to 10 days. Symptoms include:

• Runny or stuffy nose
• Congestion
• Sneezing
• Watery eyes
• Headache
• Coughing
• Fatigue
• Mild fever

While there’s nothing you can do to get rid of this infection, there are strategies you can employ to make yourself – or a loved one – more comfortable.

1. Stay hydrated: When you’re congested and breathing out of your mouth, it’s easier to become dehydrated. Drinking warm liquids – try tea, broth or warm water with lemon – can soothe your throat and ease congestion while keeping you hydrated. Skip sugary drinks, coffee and salty foods.
2. Get plenty of rest: Sleep helps your body recharge and keeps your immune system functioning at its best. Aim for eight to 10 hours a night and consider a break from strenuous exercise for a few days.
3. Eat the right foods: Making sure your body gets enough nutrients from healthy foods like fruits and vegetables fortifies your immune system. Other foods to consider: chicken soup, fresh ginger, garlic and yogurt.
4. Gargle saltwater: This can help a sore throat by moistening the back of your throat and reducing swelling. Try mixing a teaspoon of salt with a cup of warm water.
5. Ease stuffiness: Swelling in your nose and sinuses can make it difficult for mucus to drain. You can offset this with a humidifier or various nasal drops and sprays.
6. Don’t forget over-the-counter medications: A quick trip to your local pharmacy can help you gather up several medications that can ease your suffering. This includes pain relievers such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen, decongestants, antihistamines and throat lozenges. One word of caution: If you have high blood pressure or heart problems, consult with your doctor before using a pseudoephedrine decongestant.
7. Know when it’s time to seek medical care: If you experience severe symptoms, or if your cold lasts longer than 10 days, it’s time to consult with a medical professional to see if you are dealing with something more serious than a cold. This could include a fever that isn’t responding to medication, difficulty swallowing or breathing, an inability to keep food or liquid down and severe abdominal pain.

If you are caring for a child, you should take additional precautions. Make sure that you are following the correct dosage – which varies from adults to children – with over-the-counter medications. With babies less than a month old, any temperature over 100.4 needs to be seen by a doctor. Monitor hydration status through the number of wet diapers. And watch for any ear tugging  or complaints about ear pain, since kids are more prone to ear infections.