What should you not eat when you have a cold and nasal congestion?

Written by Wang Chun Mei
Pulmonology
Updated on January 09, 2025
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Colds are very common in clinical settings, often due to a patient's lowered immune function. Patients may inadvertently come into contact with viruses, bacteria, or other pathogens, leading to symptoms such as nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, fever, and cough. For patients experiencing nasal congestion from a cold, it is advised to avoid spicy and irritating foods such as chili peppers, raw onions, and raw garlic. Additionally, they should not consume cold or cooling foods and should avoid smoking and drinking alcohol to prevent exacerbating the symptoms of the cold. Therefore, during a cold, it is advisable to avoid seeking cool environments and to not set the air conditioning too low to prevent getting chilled again.

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Written by Hu Bai Yu
Pulmonology
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How to relieve a cold with headache and nausea

Colds accompanied by headache and nausea that prompts a feeling of wanting to vomit can be symptoms caused by a gastrointestinal type of cold, leading to dizziness, headache, nausea, and other discomforts. At this time, one can take some anti-cold medications combined with medications that aid digestion and alleviate symptoms. It is also necessary to take medicines that regulate the stomach and intestines for treatment. Make sure to eat smaller meals more frequently and not to eat too much at one time. Additionally, under the guidance of a doctor, one can take some antiemetic drugs to relieve nausea and the urge to vomit. It's beneficial to consume more liquid or soft foods, such as millet porridge, soft noodles, or vegetable soup. Moreover, it's important to eat slowly and chew thoroughly to fully digest the food and avoid overburdening the intestines and causing symptoms of indigestion.

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Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
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Does cold medicine hurt the stomach?

Cold medicines are harmful to the stomach because the drugs used to treat colds mainly involve symptomatic treatment and the selection of antiviral medications for etiological treatment. Colds often come with symptoms like headaches and fever, thus necessitating the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory analgesics. The most common adverse reactions to these drugs are gastrointestinal reactions. Therefore, taking cold medicines can easily harm the stomach, especially in patients with indigestion, chronic gastritis, or gastrointestinal ulcers, who may experience more pronounced symptoms. It is recommended to take cold medicines half an hour after eating to reduce their irritative effects on the gastrointestinal tract.

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Written by Jiang Guo Ming
Gastroenterology
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Symptoms of gastroenteritis

Gastrointestinal flu is caused by a viral infection, commonly seen in the summer and fall seasons, and its symptoms often include those of both upper respiratory tract infections and acute gastroenteritis. Symptoms of upper respiratory infection include fever, chills, dizziness, headache, fatigue, general muscle pain, sore throat, cough, etc.; symptoms of acute gastroenteritis are vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal bloating, abdominal pain, etc., often presenting as watery stools. This disease can be diagnosed through routine blood tests and stool exams, which help distinguish it from bacterial infections causing diarrhea. Treatment typically involves oral antiviral medications and anti-diarrheal drugs.

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Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
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What is good to eat when you have a cold?

For dietary considerations during a cold, it is generally advisable to eat light, consume more fruits and vegetables, and avoid spicy, greasy, raw, or cold natured foods. If the cold is severe, some cold medicines may be necessary to combat the virus. It's important to rest regularly and avoid excessive fatigue. Consuming foods like millet porridge, Eight-Treasure porridge, egg soup, and thin noodles can be beneficial as these foods are nutritious and do not burden the gastrointestinal tract, aiding in the recovery from a cold. When the body's immune function is compromised, viral infections may occur, necessitating antiviral medications for treatment.

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Written by Li Xue Qing
Gastroenterology
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What are the symptoms of a stomach cold?

Gastrointestinal flu primarily manifests symptoms of both the common cold and the gastrointestinal tract, predominantly with gastrointestinal symptoms, accompanied by symptoms of a cold, such as fever, headache, dizziness, and general body aches. The gastrointestinal symptoms mainly include vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, and abdominal pain. Severe diarrhea and vomiting can lead to significant loss of electrolytes and water in the body, causing shock and electrolyte imbalances. This may present as shock, sweating all over the body, profuse sweating, pale complexion, and arrhythmias, among others.