How to Recover From a Head Cold Fast
A stuffy or runny nose, sneezing and a sore throat are all tell-tale signs of a head cold, which usually is caused by a virus. This type of common cold usually only lasts a few days, but it can stretch on for up to 10 days and can lead to sinusitis. Although there is no actual cure for a head cold, there are several ways to help you get over a head cold fast.
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Things You'll Need
- Fluids
- Vitamin C
- Echinacea
- Warm salt water
- Over-the-counter cold medications
- Health care provider
Instructions
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Call in sick while suffering from a head cold and make sure to get plenty of bed rest to allow your body to heal itself. Drink lots of fluids such as water, juice, tea and soups to loosen congestion.
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Take a daily vitamin C supplement or eat an orange; the vitamin might reduce the duration and severity of common cold viruses. Echinacea, either in tea or as a supplement, also can help to alleviate head cold symptoms, especially when taken early on, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
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Mix a teaspoon of salt into an 8-ounce glass of warm water. Gargle with this mixture a few times per day to ease the sore, scratchy throat that often accompanies head colds.
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Head to the drugstore and pick up some over-the-counter cold medications containing pain relievers such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Choose the medicines that match your symptoms, such as nasal decongestants for a runny nose or cough lozenges to suppress the persistent cough that is sometimes a head cold symptom.
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Tips & Warnings
See a doctor if your head cold persists for more than 10 days and if the mucous from your nose turns a yellow or greenish color. These might be signs of sinusitis, a nasal infection that can be treated with prescription-only antibiotics.
Do not attempt to cure a short-lived head cold with antibiotics; these are not meant to treat the common cold and should not be misused.
