How to Care for a Cold

Flu and colds are caused by different viruses. A cold is called an upper respiratory infection, because it involves the nose, throat and surrounding air passages. Most colds do not include fever, chills or substantial lung involvement.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Chicken Soup
• Hot Beverages
• Acetaminophen
• Aspirins
• Cold Compresses
• Decongestant
• Ibuprofen
• Mouthwash
• Throat Lozenges
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin C

1. Eat chicken soup. It contains an amino acid called cysteine, which thins mucus and breaks up congestion. Plus, the steam from the soup helpsopen up air passages.

2. Gargle at the first sign of a scratchy throat with either mouthwash or 1 /2 tsp. of salt dissolved in 8 oz. warm water.

3. Stay warm. Getting chilled compromises your immune system.

4. Take aspirin, acetaminophen or ibuprofen to reduce fever and inflammation if you are an adult. Give children acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Determine the dose according to the child's age and weight.

5. Drink hot beverages and take hot showers. Steam helps open up nasal passages and reduces congestion.

6. Drink a lot of liquid, enough so that your urine turns clear. Yellow urine means your urine is fairly concentrated. Clear urine means your body is well-hydrated.

7. Use cough syrup sparingly. Coughing is one of the ways the body gets rid of mucus.

8. Suck on a throat lozenge for relief from a sore throat. Choose a menthol-, phenol- or benzocaine-based lozenge; these are the ones that will help to numb the throat. They also help open up nasal passages. Zinc lozenges may also be helpful.

9. Put an extra pillow under your head when you sleep to help your nasal passages drain.

10. Rest. If you have a bad cold, one of the best ways to treat it is to take a few days off and sleep.

Tips & Warnings

• Antibiotics are effective only against bacteria, so they are completely ineffective against a cold.
• Too much vitamin C can cause diarrhea and gastric discomfort.
• Take aspirin or ibuprofen to reduce fever and inflammation if you are an adult. Give children acetaminophen. Determine the dose according to the child's age and weight. If age and weight aren't compatible, calculate dose using weight.
• Be cautious not to overmedicate yourself with over-the-counter (OTC) drugs. OTC cough syrups have multiple ingredients that sometimes counteract each other.
• If your symptoms become severe, if your fever does not go down, if you have difficulty breathing or develop a serious cough, or if you have specific medical conditions or concerns, we recommend you contact a physician. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment.

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[luwainb]

on 5/3/2009 What helped me when I had a cold/flu was sufficient bedrest, drinking plenty of fluids with vitamin C (orange juice). I also take vitamin C tablets 500-1000mg (to boost my immune system). On top of that, I consume healthy light soup (little oil) such as a vegetable-turkey broth or chicken noodle soup with a pinch of cayenne pepper or chilli peppers. Lemon, honey,hot water and chamomile flowers gives you a restful night's sleep.Combined these tips help to open your nasal passages, clear your cough and combat/flush out the virus.

[KentD]

on 1/6/2009 My opinion:
Antihistimines are useless for a cold.
If you have chest congestion, and you do not smoke, do not use an anti-tussive like dextormethorphan. The cough will be helped by the expectorant. The cilia in your lungs will be able to work. If you smoke, your cilia are mostly dead, so you will have to cough it up.
Use the only expectorant approved by the FDA, Guafenisen. (Terpin hydrate is better, but it is not sold in the US now.) Drink a full glass of water with it. You can get pills now. The liquid tastes bitter.
To thin nasal congestion, use pseudoephedrine, (Sudafed and store brands), but not the phenylephrine substitute you can get on the shelf. You will need to get it from the pharmacist and sign for it in most states. It is worth the trouble. Drink a full glass of water with it. Both of these drugs will stimulate your body to make more, but thinner secretions, but only if

[howbear]

on 1/3/2009 Avoid aspirin if you suffer with asthma and be aware it can cause bleeding internally.You will know this if it applies to you but remember to ask anyone you are caring for.

on 8/8/2006 Many things have cleared up my congestion, but chicken noodle soup helped me the most. Most people don't want to go out to get medicine when they are sick, so if you just have some chicken soup around the house, eat some.

on 8/8/2006 Directions:
1. Get a cup and mix a little honey with tap water and 1 lemon squeezed in with it.
2. Next, gargle it. Do not swallow! If you don't feel better in 20 minutes, do the process again and this time add salt. It should work. Might as well try it right.