Can you swim with a cold?

Written by Wang Chun Mei
Pulmonology
Updated on March 17, 2025
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Colds, also known as upper respiratory infections, generally occur because the patient's immune function is weakened, leading to the condition. Many patients catch a cold due to exposure to cold, while others are infected by people with colds due to weakened immune function.

For patients with a cold who do not have a fever, we generally recommend engaging in appropriate exercise, which can help alleviate the symptoms of a cold. For instance, if a cold occurs during the cold winter months, swimming and participating in similar physical activities can be beneficial for enhancing the patient's immune function and aiding in quicker recovery from the illness. Therefore, it is acceptable for patients with a cold to swim.

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How to reduce fever from a stomach flu?

Generally, physical cooling methods such as wiping with alcohol or applying ice packs to areas with large arteries like the armpits, groin, or neck can be used to dissipate heat, but it is important to prevent frostbite. Secondly, you can drink herbal teas that clear heat, such as chrysanthemum tea or honeysuckle tea. Massages can also help reduce fever, focusing on acupoints like Quchi (LI 11), Hegu (LI 4), Dazhui (GV 14), and Yongquan (KI 1). Additionally, antipyretic and analgesic medications can be taken to help reduce fever. (Specific medications should be taken under the guidance of a physician.)

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Where to press for a headache from a cold?

When we have a cold and experience headaches from wind-cold, we can alleviate some clinical symptoms through massage, targeting specific areas. The selection of massage points varies depending on the patient's pain location and clinical symptoms. For example, if the pain is in the yangming meridian, which typically presents with forehead pain, common points for massage would include Yintang, Shangxing, and Yangbai. For headaches in the taiyang meridian, points such as Tianzhu, Fengchi, Houxi, and Shenmai are chosen. If the headache encompasses the entire head, points like Baihui, Yintang, Taiyang, Touwei, Yangbai, Hegu, and Fengchi can be massaged. Clinically, it's essential to differentiate based on the different headache locations and symptoms to select the appropriate acupuncture points for massage. Additionally, if the headache is caused by external pathogenic factors, points like Fengchi and Fengmen can be differentiated, and adding moxibustion at Dazhui can also help alleviate symptoms of headache due to a cold.

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What to eat for a cold or flu

Patients with colds should always pay attention to keeping warm and not catching cold, so as not to worsen the condition. Usually, they can take some cold medicines, which can clear heat and detoxify. If the condition is severe, it is recommended to take medication under the guidance of a doctor. Normally, drinking more water and urinating frequently can effectively expel some viruses from the body through urine, alleviating the symptoms of a cold. In terms of diet, eating more fresh fruits and vegetables, such as apples, bananas, and green vegetables, can effectively improve symptoms. Also, spending more time in the sun can help increase the body's immunity.

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What should I do if I catch a cold during my menstrual period?

During menstruation, if cold symptoms occur and are mild, it is not recommended to use medication. Instead, drinking more warm water and resting is advisable. If the cold is severe, it is better to use traditional Chinese medicine with no side effects under the guidance of a doctor, as the body is weak and has lower immunity during menstruation, making it prone to colds. During menstruation, keep warm, avoid cold and chilling stimuli, eat a light diet with a balanced mix of meat and vegetables, avoid vigorous exercise, and maintain personal hygiene.

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Are common colds afraid of the cold?

The common cold is a very prevalent clinical disease that falls under the category of respiratory internal medicine. Generally, patients with this type of cold exhibit varying degrees of fever, headache, dizziness, nasal congestion, runny nose, and sneezing. Additionally, some patients may also experience symptoms like coughing and an itchy throat. Since the common cold is mostly caused by viral infections in clinical settings, the presence of a fever of varying degrees can lead to chills. Therefore, it is very common for patients to exhibit symptoms such as nasal congestion, runny nose, headache, dizziness, and chills. Clinically, as long as the specific type of pathogen causing the common cold is identified, timely and effective symptomatic treatment can generally control the symptoms of chills caused by the common cold effectively.