How to Deal with a Cold

There is no cure for the common cold. The best you can do is accept your fate, ease your symptoms and hope for the best in a few days. In the meantime, there are a number of things to get you through the worst of times.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Epsom salt
• Electric blanket
• Humidifier
• Water, orange juice, any liquid
• Chicken soup
• Over-the-counter medication
• Tissues
• Mentholated salve

1. Take a day or two off from work. Stress will only make your symptoms worse, and you will likely be stressed by the fact you can’t work at your usual pace. Your fatigue, headaches, muscle aches, coughing and runny nose are likely to slow you down. Plus, no one in your workplace wants your cold. It is likely that your colleagues will gladly get along without you for awhile rather than pick up your germs. Instead, stay home, put on your comfiest pajamas and fuzzy slippers and chill out.
2. Get a lot of sleep. Your whole body probably aches and your head feels heavy, so sleep for as long as your body needs. You may have actually gotten sick from a lack of sleep, so don’t ignore your body’s way of telling you to turn off your alarm clock for awhile.
3. Stay warm and humid. Take a hot bath and add some Epsom salt to ease your muscle pain. Put an electric blanket or a couple of covers on your bed and snuggle in until your warm up. Cold viruses thrive in cold and dry temperatures (why they are so common in winter), so use a humidifier. However, make sure you clean the humidifier correctly so as not o put mold into the air.
4. Drink lots of liquid, especially water, to keep your body hydrated. Drinking orange juice will help your body’s immune system, though it won’t help you get over your cold any faster. You shouldn’t have any problem with an upset stomach with the common cold, so eat whatever food you want. Chicken soup is a traditional “healing aide”, though it hasn’t been medically proven either way.
5. Over-the-counter decongestant, cough, pain and sore throat medicine can help ease your symptoms. Many drug companies even make multi-symptom products, so take advantage of them.
6. Surround yourself with tissues. Have a significant other or friend invest in multiple boxes, preferably the medicated or lotion kinds to be kinder to your nose. You should also have some mentholated salve to put on and around your nasal openings. The menthol will help to keep your nose unclogged and the salve will ease your skin irritation from the tissues.
7. Be kind to the people around you. They know you are sick and are trying to help you. Snapping at won’t make you or them feel any better. Plus, they are probably going to be sick someday and will want you to care for them.