How to relieve a cold and cough

Written by Yuan Qing
Pulmonology
Updated on February 26, 2025
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The common cold is caused by typical viruses or bacteria that infect the upper respiratory tract. Following a cold, the airways can become inflamed, leading to the secretion of mucus, consequently causing symptoms like a runny nose, sneezing, coughing, and phlegm production. Currently, many multi-ingredient cold medications on the market not only treat cold symptoms such as runny nose and nasal congestion but also effectively alleviate coughs caused by the cold. For example, medications like Phenol Anisamine Methylamine tablets and Acetaminophen Codeine tablets effectively treat coughs induced by the common cold. (Please use medication under the guidance of a professional physician.)

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What should I do about a seasonal cold?

Colds caused by seasonal changes should be treated symptomatically, often due to fluctuations in temperature differences leading to decreased immune function and colds caused by chilling. It is recommended to drink more ginger sugar water and measure body temperature. Drinking ginger sugar water can warm the body and disperse cold, as well as promote metabolism. If there are symptoms of fever, physical methods to reduce fever should be adopted, or antipyretic medications can be taken orally. Firstly, it is important to maintain the cleanliness of the indoor air, avoid eating irritating or spicy foods, measure body temperature twice daily, and possibly combine with antiviral medications for etiological treatment.

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Can you drink alcohol when you have a cold?

A cold, also commonly referred to as an upper respiratory tract infection, can be classified based on the type of infecting virus into common cold and influenza. Regardless of the type, patients typically experience various symptoms following the virus infection such as fever, nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, coughing, and an itchy throat. For patients exhibiting these symptoms, it is generally recommended in clinical practice to drink plenty of water and avoid overly greasy foods. Certainly, consumption of alcohol and spicy foods like chili peppers should be avoided. Similarly, it is advised not to consume cold-natured foods during a cold, hence drinking alcohol is discouraged while sick.

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Can you drink tea when you have a cold?

It is not recommended to drink tea when having a cold; it is advised that patients drink more plain water instead. Patients also need to maintain a light diet and eat some fruits, and it’s recommended to avoid both tea and carbonated beverages, as well as alcohol. For conditions like the common cold, it is important to avoid staying up late and overexerting oneself. The common cold is usually self-limiting, meaning it will typically resolve on its own as the patient's immune system fights off the illness. However, if the symptoms of a cold are severe, it may be necessary to take medication for symptomatic treatment. It is also important to note that while the common cold is usually self-limiting and does not often lead to serious consequences, complications can sometimes arise. For example, it could lead to acute sinusitis or bacterial pneumonia. If a cold sufferer's symptoms persist or worsen, it is important to seek medical attention promptly for proper treatment.

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How to relieve nasal congestion in children with a cold

Nasal congestion is a common symptom of a cold in children. When the congestion is severe, it can affect the child's daily life, making breathing uncomfortable and causing the child to become irritable. Therefore, it is important to address it promptly. First, ensure the child drinks plenty of water and you can apply a warm towel to the base of the nose. If there is a lot of nasal discharge, it should be cleaned out timely. You can use physiological saline to rinse the nasal cavity, thereby keeping the nasal passages clear. You can also give the child some cold medicine for children, which can completely relieve the nasal congestion. These are some specific methods on how to deal with nasal congestion during a child's cold, which you can try.

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How to reduce fever when having a cold?

For treating fever from a cold, clinical practices include several physical cooling methods to alleviate fever symptoms. The simplest method involves using a cool towel or ice pack to compress the forehead. Other methods include wiping the palms, soles of the feet, chest, inner thighs, and inner arms with warm water or alcohol. Soaking feet in Sichuan peppercorn water or drinking more ginger sugar water can also help in physically reducing fever. Additionally, using fever-reducing patches and increasing water intake can promote metabolism.