How To Treat A Cold

Date: Jul-12-2012The common cold, usually referred to as just a cold is caused by a viral infection in the upper airways, sinuses, throat and nose. Experts say a cold affects primarily the nose. There may also be a fever. In the vast majority of cases, despite making you feel dreadful with all the sneezing, sore throat, cough, and runny nose, a cold is a self-limiting infection; this means it gets better on its own without requiring any special treatment. Most people get better within a week - in some cases, it may last a little longer.

Bearing in mind that it will go away, what can somebody with a cold do to make life more comfortable meanwhile? There is no cure for the common cold, so, whatever remedies you take will help treat the symptoms, but will probably make no difference on how rapidly you recover.
Should I use antibiotics for a cold?
Antibiotics are prescribed for bacterial infections. Colds are caused by viruses and do not respond to antibiotics. It is surprising how many people go to their doctor asking for an antibiotic for their cold.

Antibiotics will not help you get better any faster, neither will they prevent you from passing it onto other people.

An article published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) informed that fear of complications is not a good enough reason to prescribe antibiotics for upper respiratory tract infection (common cold). However, it adds that "as far as the elderly are concerned, antibiotics do significantly lessen the risk of pneumonia following a chest infection". (Link to article)
Does Echinacea help cold symptoms, or the duration of a cold?
Echinacea, also known as purple coneflower is a native North American wild flower, where indigenous peoples have used it as a herbal remedy for a variety of illnesses and conditions. Studies have produced conflicting results.

A 2007 study published in the July, 2007, issue of The Lancet Infectious Diseases) found that the herbal remedy reduced the duration of a cold by an average of 1.4 days and lowered a person's chance of catching a cold by 58%. (Link to article)

Researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine reported in Annals of Internal Medicine that Echinacea has no big impact on the common cold, and only reduces the duration of symptoms "by half a day at the most". (Link to article)
Avoid becoming dehydrated when you have a cold
Water and other fluids and drinks - sweating and runny noses, common when people have a cold, can cause dehydration. This loss of fluids needs to be constantly replaced. The best drink is water. When you have a cold, drink plenty of water. Remember that coffee and caffeinated sodas can cause dehydration - avoid them.

Chicken soup (chicken broth)  - experts believe that chicken soup really does help relieve the symptoms of colds. It is believed to inhibit the movement of neutrophils, immune system cells which cause inflammation, and also helps the movement of mucus. Chicken soup is also watery and may help with dehydration.

Chicken soup helps rehydrate, and possibly has other benefits when you have a cold

Get plenty of rest
Getting plenty of rest will not only help alleviate some of the symptoms, and make you feel less miserable, it may also reduce the duration of your cold. Rest will help your immune system fight off the virus infection more effectively.

There is no official recommendation regarding how long you should rest up, or stay off work or school.
Good hygiene
Good hygiene this is important to prevent the spread of infection. Stay away from work or school while you do not feel well.

Cover your mouth with a tissue if you sneeze or cough, or cough into the inside of your elbow

Cover your mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, and throw it away into a trash can immediately, and wash your hands with warm water and soap. If you have no tissues and cough or sneeze, do so into the inner part of your elbow, because that part of the body does not then contaminate surfaces (your hands might).
Salt water for sore throat
Salt water gargle - if you make a solution consisting of ¼ teaspoon of salt dissolved in 8 ounces of warm water and gargle, your sore throat symptoms may be temporarily relieved.

A saline solution help draw excess fluid from inflamed tissues in the back of the throat, resulting in less pain. Thick mucus may also become loosened, making it easier to expel them.

Nasal saline drops - this may help young babies with nasal congestions. They are available at pharmacies. Nasal saline drops may be a useful alternative to salt solutions for gargling (getting babies and very young children to gargle is virtually impossible).
Steam inhalation
For a traditional steam inhalation, half fill a pan with water and bring it to the boil. Place the pan on a sturdy table, make sure there is a towel or heat-resistant mat under it.

Sit with your head over the pan and cover yourself with a towel.

Close your eyes and breathe deeply. Make sure none of the steam gets into your eyes

Some steam inhalators have a mouthpiece. Hot water is poured in, and you suck in through your mouth.

The steam may help alleviate symptoms of congestion.

Avoid steam inhalations with small children - there is a risk of scalding. Small children may benefit from standing close to a hot shower and breathing in the steam.
Can zinc help treat a cold?
Previous studies have had mixed results regarding the benefits or not of zinc for fighting colds. Most positive studies say the zinc should be taken within 24 hours of the onset of symptoms.

Canadian researchers recently found that zinc tends to work better with adults than with children; they added that adverse effects, especially when higher doses are taken, are common. (Link to article)
Antihistamines might help cold symptoms, but....
Sedating (first generation) antihistamines may alleviate some cold symptoms slightly, such as the watery eyes, runny nose, coughs and sneezes.

Experts are not sure, though, whether the benefits of using antihistamines really outweigh the side effects. Studies have come back with mixed results.

Many specialists say that antihistamines dry up nasal membranes, which slows down mucus flow, undermining the nasal passages' ability to get rid of germs.
Decongestants help breathing
Decongestants are medications that shrink the swollen membranes in the nose, allowing for easier breathing. There are oral or nasal decongestants. Unless a doctor says so, nasal decongestants should not be used for more than five days - longer usage may actually block up the nose more.

Patients with hypertension should not use decongestants, unless they are under a doctor's supervision.

Many researchers are not sure whether decongestants really work, or whether they are worth recommending because they only work for a very short time.

Nasal decongestants should not be used by patients on MAOI (monoamine oxidase inhibitor) antidepressants.

Over the last five or six years, regulatory bodies around the world have introduced tighter controls on decongestants that contain pseudoephedrine and ephedrine. The MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency), in the UK did so in 2008. (Link to article)
Cough medicines and childfen
OTC (over-the-counter, no prescription required) Cough medicines may be hazardous for children. The FDA says they should not be given to children younger than two years of age. The Consumer Healthcare Products Association says children under 4 should not be given OTC cough medicines.

Scientists at the University of Melbourne, Australia, found that over 40% of parents have used OTC cough medications for children as young as two, even though they are neither recommended, nor proven to be effective for young children. (Link to article)

Currently, an FDA evaluation on cough medications in older children is underway.

The American College of Chest Physicians says that cough medicines are not much help for colds.
What if I have fever and/or pain?
Painkillers and Antipyretics (drugs to reduce fever) may be helpful. Although a high fever may not be desirable, a slight fever is not such a bad thing - it helps the body fight off infections more rapidly.

When your body temperature rises, viruses (and bacteria) find it harder to reproduce. With the exception of very young patients, doctors no longer recommend trying to bring a slight fever down.

However, if you feel bothered and uncomfortable, an antipyretic is usually OK. Aspirin should only be taken by older adults, not children nor young adults. Acetaminophen (Tylenol, paracetamol), Advil or ibuprofen are effective for the treatment of fever or pain.

Check with your doctor or a qualified pharmacist for the best painkiller for you.
Air humidifiers in very dry environments
An air humidifier - during the cold months, when the central heating dries the air out, an air humidifier will help keep the throat and nasal passages moist.

Written by Christian Nordqvist

Copyright: Medical News Today

Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today
Courtesy: Medical News Today Note: Any medical information available in this news section is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a health care professional.