Will a cold with nasal congestion get better on its own?

Written by Wang Chun Mei
Pulmonology
Updated on October 20, 2024
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Cold, also known as upper respiratory tract infection, manifests clinically in patients with varying degrees of nasal congestion, runny nose, and sneezing. It's important first to identify the upper respiratory tract infection, which is mainly caused by a viral infection that leads to symptoms like nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, and sometimes a sore throat. For viral infections causing inflammatory lesions in the respiratory tract, in cases where the patient's immune function is strong, the symptoms of nasal congestion caused by the viral cold can resolve on their own. However, in infants or elderly people with lower immune function, when a viral cold occurs, symptomatic treatment with antiviral drugs can lead to a quicker recovery.

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Written by Wang Chun Mei
Pulmonology
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Do you need to take medicine for a cold with nasal congestion?

Nasal congestion due to a cold is very common in clinical practice. The need for medication depends on the type of cold and the patient's own immune function. If the patient has a cold caused by a viral infection and the symptoms are not severe, or if the patient generally likes to exercise and is young, a mild cold may not require medication and can heal on its own within about a week. For children or elderly individuals with weaker resistance, when an upper respiratory infection occurs, it is advisable to administer some medication for symptomatic treatment to prevent the condition from worsening and to avoid unnecessary complications.

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Written by Zhang Shu Kun
Traditional Chinese Medicine
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Does Yin deficiency make one prone to catching a cold?

Patients with Yin deficiency are prone to catching colds. However, generally speaking, it does not cause colds. It might be that some individual patients are prone to colds, so it varies from person to person, and there is no specific situation. Yin deficiency mainly causes physical weakness, poor health, and reduced immunity, which can then easily lead to colds and other symptoms. Therefore, if Yin deficiency occurs, it is crucial to treat it promptly with medication and also to eat more foods that nourish Yin and supplement Yang in the diet.

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Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
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Yellow nasal discharge is what kind of cold?

Yellow nasal discharge is not a symptom of a cold. A cold, also known as an upper respiratory tract infection, typically presents with clear nasal discharge, indicating a viral infection. The appearance of yellow nasal discharge could suggest two possibilities: it could either be a symptom of sinusitis or it could indicate a secondary bacterial infection following a cold, especially in the later stages of a cold, manifesting symptoms similar to sinusitis. Therefore, yellow or yellow-purulent nasal discharge is definitively not a cold; it might be a symptom of sinusitis occurring late in the course of a cold or as the cold is resolving. In conclusion, yellow nasal discharge is not indicative of a cold.

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Written by Hu Bai Yu
Pulmonology
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What should I drink for a cold and cough?

For a cold accompanied by coughing, it is appropriate to drink some rock sugar pear water, or some stewed Fritillaria pear, or some fruit juice and vegetable juice. Drinking mung bean soup can also have a certain cough-relieving effect. Additionally, it is recommended to appropriately consume loquat pear or some honey water. Pay attention to a light diet, avoiding spicy and greasy, stimulating foods. During the coughing period, avoid seafood such as fish and shrimp, and also avoid insect-based foods. Also avoid overly sour, overly sweet, or overly greasy foods. At the same time, keep warm, avoid exposure to wind and cold, refrain from intense exercise, and engage in appropriate activities to strengthen the physique and enhance resistance.

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Written by Wu Xiao Sheng
Pulmonology
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Can Banlangen treat a cold?

Banlangen belongs to the category of Chinese medicine. From the perspective of Chinese medicine, Banlangen has certain effects on treating the common cold, meaning it can be used to treat colds. For example, Banlan根 is most commonly used to treat colds, mainly treating wind-heat type colds, and its effectiveness for colds due to wind-cold or summer dampness is relatively poor or non-existent. However, from the perspective of modern medicine, the common cold is often caused by viral infections of the respiratory system, classified as acute upper respiratory infection, which can cause symptoms such as fever, nasal congestion, runny nose, and sore throat. Therefore, a combination of medications is used to improve the clinical symptoms of a cold. Common medications include compound paracetamol and amantadine, Mameimin tablets, etc. Banlangen is generally not used for treatment. (Please follow medical advice when using medication.)